Gulf Shores, Orange Beach Urge Visitors to Leave as Hurricane Isaias Nears; Bridges May Close Friday

GULF SHORES, Ala. — Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have declared local states of emergency, closed city offices and asked every visitor on Alabama’s beaches to leave as Hurricane Isaias bears down on the northern Gulf Coast. The two cities are also urging residents of low-lying, flood-prone neighborhoods to voluntarily evacuate before conditions deteriorate, and Orange Beach officials have warned that the bridges linking the island to the mainland may close as early as Friday afternoon, Oct. 9.

Isaias strengthened into a hurricane overnight Wednesday into Thursday, according to the City of Orange Beach’s 5 a.m. Thursday advisory, which relayed information from the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service office in Mobile. The hurricane watch for Alabama’s coastal counties was upgraded to a hurricane warning, and the storm surge watch was upgraded to a storm surge warning for the coastline. Forecasters expect landfall somewhere between the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Destin, Florida, Friday night into early Saturday. Some weakening is possible before the storm reaches the coast, the city said, but Isaias could still be a significant hurricane at landfall.

Voluntary evacuation for visitors and low-lying neighborhoods

In a joint statement issued Wednesday, Oct. 7, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach asked all non-permanent residents to leave the area immediately and move to a safer location. The cities said current forecasts call for high winds, storm surge and flooding, along with disruptions to essential services that could limit access to public safety and critical utility systems.

Leaving early, the cities said, will help reduce traffic congestion, support emergency operations and protect the people who may be most vulnerable during the storm. The request also covers permanent residents who live in low-lying areas prone to flooding.

“Our first responsibility is to safeguard lives and ensure that emergency services and utility crews can operate effectively as conditions worsen,” Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft said. “We strongly urge all visitors to take this seriously and move to safer accommodations without delay.”

Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon noted how rarely the cities make such a request. “We haven’t had a voluntary evacuation in a long time, so we don’t take it lightly,” Kennon said. “Please help us by leaving the Islands so that we do what needs to be done.”

The joint statement followed the Baldwin County Commission’s approval of a countywide local state of emergency on Wednesday. At a news conference afterward, Baldwin County Sheriff Anthony Lowery also urged visitors to leave the coast, noting that hotel and condominium occupancy along Alabama’s beaches was still above 80%. The storm arrived on what was expected to be one of the busiest weekends of the fall tourism season; organizers had already canceled the 53rd annual National Shrimp Festival, which was scheduled to open Thursday in Gulf Shores.

Gov. Kay Ivey also declared a state of emergency on Wednesday covering 40 Alabama counties, according to the City of Orange Beach.

What the forecast means for Pleasure Island

Orange Beach’s Thursday advisory laid out a list of potential impacts that officials said continued to increase. Exactly where the worst conditions occur will depend on the storm’s final track, but the city warned residents to expect:

• Hurricane-force winds near the center of the storm, with tropical-storm-force winds possibly reaching the coast as early as late Friday morning and spreading inland Friday afternoon.
• Life-threatening storm surge of up to 5 to 7 feet above normally dry ground, especially along and east of where the center comes ashore.
• Numerous instances of flash flooding, particularly in coastal areas, with rainfall totals of 2 to 6 inches and isolated higher amounts.
• Tornadoes, mainly east of the storm’s center.
• Dangerous surf and a high risk of rip currents.

Surge forecasts carry special weight on the island. The average elevation in Orange Beach is roughly 7 feet above sea level, with some topographic maps showing a range of 7 to 13 feet, so a surge in the forecast range could push water into low-lying streets and properties. Gulf Shores officials have likewise told residents to know the elevation of their homes, because elevation helps determine how storm surge could affect them.

The National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning when hurricane conditions, meaning sustained winds of 74 mph or greater, are expected somewhere within the warning area. A storm surge warning signals a danger of life-threatening flooding from rising water moving inland from the shoreline. Because outdoor preparations become difficult or dangerous once tropical-storm-force winds arrive, both warnings are meant to give people time to finish preparing or leave.

Bridges could close Friday

For anyone still on the island, the most important deadline may be the bridges. Orange Beach officials said all bridges will be closed once sustained winds reach 45 mph. “Don’t count on bridges staying open past noon on Friday, and plan travel accordingly,” the city’s advisory said.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach sit on a barrier island separated from the rest of Baldwin County by the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, so the bridges are the only road connections to the mainland. Once they close, leaving by car is no longer an option, and emergency responders may not be able to reach people until conditions improve.

City offices close and re-entry passes

Gulf Shores declared its own local state of emergency Wednesday morning during a special City Council meeting, when Mayor Craft and the council passed a resolution in response to the approaching storm. The city first said its offices would close beginning Friday. After the National Weather Service’s 5:30 p.m. update Wednesday indicated a hurricane warning was likely overnight, the city moved that timeline up: all Gulf Shores offices closed to the public after noon Thursday, Oct. 8, so municipal teams could finish emergency preparations. Police, fire rescue, public works and other essential services continue to operate.

Under a City Council resolution, Gulf Shores stops issuing hurricane re-entry passes of any kind once a hurricane warning is in effect. To give residents and business owners a final chance, the city kept distributing passes at City Hall and the Gulf Shores City Store until noon Thursday. Residents and business operators who missed that window will be able to get a pass after the storm passes at the new Gulf Shores Justice Center, 312 Medical Village Blvd.

Orange Beach closed its non-essential offices and facilities at noon Thursday and canceled all city programs and activities. Finance and City Hall stayed open until 5 p.m. Thursday to help the public, and hurricane re-entry decals were issued until that time. Information on decals is available on the city’s website.

Re-entry credentials matter after a storm because officials typically restrict access to the island until roads, bridges and utilities have been checked. Residents and property owners who have passes or decals can generally return sooner than the general public once officials allow it.

Orange Beach City Schools canceled classes and all school-related activities Thursday. Fall break begins Friday, and classes are scheduled to resume Tuesday, according to the city.

Sand, debris and securing property

Both cities offered sand for residents to fill their own bags:

• Gulf Shores: Sand is available at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex, 19025 Oak Road West. Sandbags and shovels are not provided but can be bought at local hardware and home improvement stores.
• Orange Beach: Sand and sandbags are available behind City Hall, 4099 Orange Beach Blvd., and a shovel is on hand for those who don’t bring one. The city said supplies would be replenished through the day but could run out for short periods.

Gulf Shores asked residents to stop bringing debris to the roadside, and Orange Beach asked people to keep rights-of-way and curbs in front of their homes clear. Loose debris and yard waste can become airborne in high winds and can clog storm drains. Orange Beach also asked contractors to pick up or secure construction materials and debris.

Officials urged residents and property owners to bring in or tie down patio furniture, umbrellas, awnings, bikes, and trash and recycling bins, and to anchor larger items that cannot be moved. Boat owners who have not already done so should secure their vessels or move them to higher ground, and Orange Beach asked property owners to turn off water lines on piers.

Stay out of the Gulf

Double red flags began flying Thursday, meaning Gulf waters are closed to the public. Swimming under double red flags is illegal on Alabama’s beaches. Orange Beach’s detailed beach report is available by calling 251-981-SURF (7873).

On the beach in Gulf Shores on Thursday, some visitors who had not yet left came out to look at the building surf from the sand. Lisa Schmidt, a new homeowner from Huntsville, said her family had shuttered their house before heading to the beach. “This will be my first time so I have no idea what to expect,” Schmidt said. “I’m a little nervous. I’m not going to lie.”

Baldwin County Emergency Management officials said they were especially concerned about people staying on the Fort Morgan peninsula, where beach warning flags are sparse and there are no lifeguards on patrol. Strong long-shore currents driven by an east wind add to the danger, and officials said surf conditions are expected to worsen as the storm approaches.

Shelters and transportation

Baldwin County planned to open its shelter at the Baldwin County Coliseum, 19477 Fairground Road in Robertsdale, at 3 p.m. Thursday. A pet-friendly shelter is available at the same location. People going to the shelter should bring bedding, medications, personal items and identification. Baldwin Regional Area Transit System (BRATS) transportation to shelters is available while conditions remain safe; call 251-972-6817.

A VOAD community shelter is set to open at 6 a.m. Friday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 506 N. Pine St. in Foley. Guests should bring their own bedding, supplies and medications; meals will be provided. More information is available at 251-256-8202.

Gulf Shores reminded residents that shelters will not be available for the first 72 hours after a storm. The city advises preparing disaster kits with at least seven days of food, water and essential supplies, keeping one full kit at home and smaller portable kits in vehicles or at work.

Final preparations checklist

For residents who are staying, officials across both cities shared these reminders:

• Keep weather radios on and cell phones charged so you can receive alerts, and monitor local forecasts closely.
• Have a family safety plan that covers medications, important contacts, food, water and pet care.
• Fill vehicles and generators with fuel now in case it becomes unavailable after the storm.
• Trim or remove trees that could fall on homes or other structures, if time allows.
• Never drive through flooded roads. Water depth can be deceiving, and vehicles can stall or be swept away. Turn around, don’t drown.
• If an evacuation order is issued, leave immediately, and know your route and destination ahead of time.

Where to get updates

Both cities said they will keep monitoring Isaias’s track and intensity and will post updates as conditions change. Gulf Shores shares weather information on its website, through its free notification system and on its official social media channels; Orange Beach posts advisories on its website and social media.

The most current forecasts, watches and warnings are available from the National Hurricane Center at hurricanes.gov and the National Weather Service in Mobile at weather.gov/mob. Baldwin County Emergency Management posts county-level updates on shelters and evacuations, and the Alabama Department of Transportation’s ALGO Traffic site, algotraffic.com, shows road conditions and closures.

Coastal Baldwin County has been through this before. Hurricane Ivan came ashore near Gulf Shores in September 2004, and Hurricane Sally made landfall there in September 2020, leaving lasting damage across Pleasure Island. Local officials said the lesson from those storms is the same one they are repeating now: finish preparations early, and if you are a visitor or live in a flood-prone area, leave while the roads and bridges are still open.