Dauphin Island Marina to Stay Closed Indefinitely After Hurricane Sally
Hurricane Sally wrecked docks and utilities at the Dauphin Island Marina, sinking boats and forcing an indefinite closure of the business.
The Dauphin Island Marina will remain closed for the foreseeable future after Hurricane Sally inflicted extensive damage on its docks and utilities, the business says.
In a social media update, the marina described heavy damage to water and electric service on all four of its docks, caused by wave action during the storm. Decks were torn loose from the piers, including at the charter dock and pier B, both of which had recently been rebuilt. Of the marina’s more than 80 finger piers, only about 10 survived.
Several boats that were not evacuated before the storm sank, including four at pier A and one at pier B. Boats kept in dry storage came through unharmed, according to the marina.
Owners initially estimated three to four weeks of repair work, but they now say the recovery will take longer. As crews dig through debris, they keep finding additional damage. The business also cited pandemic-related complications: supply shortages, long lead times and higher-than-expected costs for materials — when those materials are available at all.
The closure adds to the recovery burden on Dauphin Island, which took a direct hit from Sally’s effects in mid-September 2020.
About Hurricane Sally
Hurricane Sally made landfall near Gulf Shores on Sept. 16, 2020, as a Category 2 storm with 105 mph winds. The slow-moving hurricane dumped heavy rain and pushed storm surge into Mobile Bay and along the Alabama and Florida Panhandle coasts.
