Foley State of Emergency: Shelters, Closures and Free Sand as Hurricane Isaias Nears

FOLEY, Ala. — With Hurricane Isaias bearing down on the Alabama coast, a Foley state of emergency is in effect, and city leaders are closing non-emergency offices Friday, offering free sand and urging residents to be ready to take care of themselves for at least three days after the storm passes.

The Foley emergency declaration was issued Wednesday, Oct. 7, the same day the Baldwin County Commission approved its own declaration of emergency. Gov. Kay Ivey followed at 4 p.m. Wednesday with a state emergency declaration covering 40 Alabama counties, including Baldwin.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Isaias was expected to make landfall on or near the Alabama Gulf Coast as early as Friday, Oct. 9, and was likely to be a significant hurricane by the time it reached the shore. Forecasters said the storm was expected to strengthen significantly before arriving on the northern Gulf Coast, and city officials said it could reach Category 2 strength. Major impacts were expected across coastal Alabama and northwest Florida.

Here is what Foley residents need to know about shelters, city services, sand and how to prepare for the days after the storm.

What the emergency declarations mean

Emergency declarations at the city, county and state levels are standard steps ahead of a hurricane threat. They do not by themselves order anyone to leave, but they give governments added flexibility to respond. A local declaration generally allows a city or county to move quickly on purchases, contracts and staffing related to the storm, and it helps document storm-related costs that may later qualify for state or federal reimbursement.

A governor’s state of emergency allows state agencies to mobilize resources and coordinate with local emergency managers, and it is typically a prerequisite if the state later asks for a federal disaster declaration. In Alabama, a state emergency declaration also triggers the state’s price-gouging law, which prohibits unconscionable price increases on goods and services such as fuel, food, water, lodging and building supplies during the emergency. Residents who suspect price gouging can report it to the Alabama Attorney General’s Office.

Evacuation orders, if any are issued, come from local and state officials and are announced separately. Residents should follow the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency for those announcements.

Shelters in Robertsdale and Foley

Two shelters were scheduled to open for Foley-area residents who need a safer place to ride out the storm.

• Baldwin County Coliseum, Robertsdale: The coliseum at 19477 Fairground Road was scheduled to open Thursday, Oct. 8, as a public shelter. Officials asked anyone using it to bring necessary medications, personal items and other essential supplies.
• St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Foley: The church at 506 N. Pine St. was scheduled to open a shelter at 6 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9. Anyone needing shelter there is asked to bring their own bedding, supplies and medication.

Public shelters are meant to be a safe place to stay, not a comfortable one, and they typically offer limited space and few amenities. Emergency managers generally recommend that people who plan to use a shelter bring a several-day supply of prescription medicines, any medical equipment they rely on, identification, phone chargers, hygiene items, a change of clothes and snacks. Families should ask in advance about any rules on pets, since policies differ from shelter to shelter.

Shelters are often the best option for people living in mobile homes, RVs or other structures that are not built to withstand hurricane-force winds, as well as for people in low-lying areas prone to flooding.

City offices, library and market closed

Non-emergency Foley city offices and facilities are closed Friday and are scheduled to reopen Monday, Oct. 12. The closures include:

• The city’s museums
• Foley Community Library
• The Interpretive Center at Graham Creek Nature Preserve

The Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermen’s Market will also be closed Saturday, Oct. 10.

Emergency services, including police, fire and public works crews, continue to operate. Residents with questions can call Foley City Hall at 251-943-1545.

Garbage pickup moved earlier Friday

City sanitation collection remained on schedule for Friday, but with an earlier start. Residents were asked to have their garbage at the curb by 5 a.m. Friday, because crews planned to begin routes earlier than usual in an effort to finish before conditions deteriorated. Saturday commercial collection routes will not run.

Residents who have not yet put their carts out should secure them so they do not become windborne debris. Emergency managers generally advise against placing yard waste, furniture or other bulky items at the curb ahead of a storm, since loose material can be blown into streets and storm drains.

Drainage work and flooding concerns

Foley Mayor John Hellmich said city Public Works crews have spent the past week clearing ditches and drainage areas to prepare for the storm. Many parts of the city are still saturated from heavy rainfall last weekend, which raises the potential for localized flooding if Isaias brings more heavy rain.

“Our Public Works crews worked throughout last week to make sure our drainage system was open and our ditches were clear,” Hellmich said Wednesday. “They are continuing that work now and will continue as we prepare for the storm.”

Waterlogged ground has less capacity to absorb new rain, so runoff reaches ditches, streets and low spots more quickly. Saturated soil can also make trees more likely to topple in strong winds, which in turn can bring down power lines.

Free sand available

The city is providing free sand for residents preparing for possible flooding at the former Foley Public Works Department site, 120 E. Orchid Ave. Access is through the north gate at the east end of East Marigold Avenue, behind South Baldwin County United Way.

Sand and shovels are available on site. Sandbags may be temporarily unavailable because supplies are limited, though crews are restocking as supplies allow. Residents are encouraged to bring their own bags if they have them.

Emergency management agencies commonly recommend filling sandbags only about half to two-thirds full so they can be packed tightly, laying them in staggered rows like bricks, and concentrating them at the most vulnerable points, such as doorways and garage doors. Sandbags can slow and redirect shallow water, but they do not make a building waterproof, so it is also wise to move valuables off the floor.

‘The first 72 is on you’

City officials are stressing that residents should be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least the first 72 hours after the storm. During that period, emergency responders and city crews will be focused on life safety, clearing major roadways, assessing damage and restoring critical services, which means routine requests may have to wait.

The city’s checklist for getting ready includes:

• Keeping vehicles fueled.
• Having enough drinking water and nonperishable food for at least three days.
• Filling prescriptions and having necessary medications on hand.
• Charging phones, portable chargers and other essential devices.
• Having flashlights, batteries and a battery-powered or weather radio available.
• Securing outdoor furniture and other loose objects.
• Keeping important documents protected from water.
• Making plans for family members, pets and anyone who may need additional assistance.
• Avoiding unnecessary travel during and immediately after the storm.

Officials also cautioned that residents should not assume emergency services, electricity, cellular service or other utilities will be immediately available after a major storm.

Federal and state preparedness guidance offers some additional detail. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person per day. A manual can opener, a first-aid kit, extra batteries and some cash are also useful, since card readers and ATMs may not work during a power outage. Insurance policies, identification and medical records can be sealed in a waterproof container or saved digitally. Photos or video of a home and its contents taken before a storm can help with any insurance claims later.

Staying safe during and after Isaias

Once the storm arrives, the safest place is indoors, in an interior room away from windows. Tropical systems can produce brief tornadoes in their outer rain bands, so residents should have a plan to move to a small interior room on the lowest floor not prone to flooding if a tornado warning is issued. If the eye of the storm passes overhead, people should stay put; the calm is temporary, and winds can return suddenly from the opposite direction.

Flooding is responsible for a large share of hurricane-related deaths. The National Weather Service’s long-standing advice is “Turn Around, Don’t Drown”: never drive or walk through flooded roads, because even shallow moving water can knock a person down or sweep a vehicle away, and floodwater can hide washed-out pavement and downed power lines.

After the storm, residents should treat every downed power line as live and report it to their utility. Portable generators should be run only outdoors and well away from doors, windows and vents to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Cleanup with chainsaws and ladders should be done carefully, and residents who evacuated should wait until officials say it is safe before returning.

Where to get updates

The city of Foley said it will continue providing updates as conditions and city operations change. Residents can follow the city’s official website and social media accounts, the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency, and the National Weather Service office in Mobile, which issues local forecasts and warnings. The National Hurricane Center posts advisories on the storm’s track and intensity at hurricanes.gov.

Foley residents with questions about city services can call Foley City Hall at 251-943-1545.