Foley Storm Debris Pickup Underway as City Credits Sally Lessons for Smooth Isaias Response

FOLEY, Ala. — Hurricane Isaias left downed trees, damaged signs and scattered power outages across Foley, but the city escaped the kind of widespread destruction it saw from Hurricane Sally in 2020, and city leaders say lessons from that storm paid off. With streets open and the cleanup under way, Foley storm debris collection is now the focus, and the city has temporarily lifted its usual limit on yard waste to help residents clear their property.

The Foley City Council held a special meeting after the storm to pass a debris-collection resolution and discuss Isaias’ effects on the city.

A glancing blow compared with Sally

Isaias came ashore near Destin, Fla., at about 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. Foley, well west of the landfall point in south Baldwin County, felt the storm’s wind but little of its rain. The city recorded less than an inch of rainfall, and no flooding was reported on city streets.

By Saturday morning, Oct. 10, every street in Foley was passable.

That outcome stood in sharp contrast to Hurricane Sally, which made landfall at Gulf Shores on Sept. 16, 2020, as a Category 2 hurricane and stalled over the area, dumping heavy rain and causing extensive wind and flood damage across Baldwin County, including in Foley.

‘The lessons we learned from Sally were applied’

Mayor Ralph Hellmich credited city employees for their preparation and response.

“The lessons we learned from Sally were applied. I want to compliment our team,” Hellmich said. “Their cooperation and communication was extraordinary and they were well positioned.”

In the days before Isaias arrived, crews cleaned drainage ditches to prepare for possible flooding. That work came just days after heavy rains earlier in October had flooded some Foley roads and sent crews out to clear drains.

“They had already done work on the ditches,” Hellmich said. “Our folks went out and were really ahead of this one, and I think we were much better prepared.”

The city also handed out approximately 20,000 sandbags to residents trying to protect their homes and businesses from flooding, according to preliminary estimates.

Firefighters answered 29 storm calls

As the storm passed Friday night and into early Saturday, contractors and city workers cleared fallen trees from road rights-of-way. Foley Fire Department crews were called in to work double shifts from Friday afternoon through Saturday morning.

Fire Chief Joey Darby said firefighters responded to 29 storm-related calls between 3:30 p.m. and midnight Friday. Most involved fallen trees or downed power lines. Crews also responded to small fires that started when trees struck power lines in the high winds.

Falling trees damaged two mobile homes, but no one was hurt. No firefighters were injured, and no fire equipment was damaged during the storm.

The Foley Police Department handled 48 storm-related calls for service, including 19 involving road hazards.

Debris collection under way

Debris pickup began Monday morning, Oct. 12, according to Mike Chavers, Foley’s street maintenance superintendent. Workers from other city divisions were pulled in to help remove limbs and storm debris.

Public Works crews are collecting roadside debris Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will work throughout the city to pick up as much as possible. The goal is to finish the initial round of collection within two weeks of the storm.

Foley’s standard 6-cubic-yard limit on residential yard debris has been lifted temporarily, until further notice. The exception applies only to storm debris. Waste from clearing land or from routine yard work is not covered and remains subject to the normal rules.

How to set out storm debris

Sorting debris correctly helps crews collect it faster, and mixed piles can slow pickup or be left behind. Residents should separate storm debris into distinct piles:

• Vegetative debris: tree limbs, branches, leaves and logs.
• Construction debris: building materials such as drywall, lumber, shingles, siding and fencing.
• Hazardous materials: items such as paint, cleaning chemicals, batteries, oil and pesticides.
• Appliances: refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, water heaters and air conditioners.

General guidance from emergency managers for placing storm debris at the curb includes:

• Place piles at the edge of your property, near the street, without blocking the roadway, sidewalks or storm drains.
• Keep debris away from fire hydrants, mailboxes, water meters, utility boxes and low-hanging power lines.
• Do not stack debris against trees or poles, where loaders cannot safely reach it.
• Do not bag vegetative debris unless told to; loose limbs are easier for crews to pick up.
• Secure refrigerator and freezer doors and remove spoiled food before setting appliances out.

Burning is not an option

Residents looking to get rid of limbs faster should not burn them. A Baldwin County burn ban remains in effect through Oct. 31 as Isaias cleanup continues, and dry weather since the storm has raised the risk that a debris fire could spread.

Staying safe during cleanup

Post-storm cleanup brings its own dangers. Public safety officials routinely remind residents to:

• Treat every downed power line as live and stay clear. Report downed lines to the utility or call 911.
• Use chain saws only with proper protective gear and never alone, and be careful of limbs under tension, which can snap back.
• Run generators outdoors only, well away from doors, windows and vents, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Drink plenty of water and take breaks, since warm temperatures have lingered along the coast since the storm.

What comes next

City crews will continue working through neighborhoods during the two-week initial collection window. Residents who still have debris after crews pass, or who have questions about what qualifies as storm debris, should contact the city’s Public Works Department. Updates on collection progress are posted through the City of Foley’s official website and social media channels.