Hurricane Isaias: Baldwin County Shelters Open as Officials Urge Low-Lying Residents to Get Out

ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — With Hurricane Isaias bearing down on the northern Gulf Coast, Baldwin County shelters are open, free rides are available for residents who need help reaching them, and emergency leaders are repeating a blunt message to anyone living in a low-lying or flood-prone area: if you are in doubt, get out.

The Baldwin County Coliseum in Robertsdale opened as the county’s primary public shelter Thursday afternoon, and a second shelter at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Foley was scheduled to open at 6 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9. Baldwin County, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have all declared local states of emergency, and county officials have recommended voluntary evacuation for coastal, low-lying and flood-prone communities, with particular concern for the Fort Morgan Peninsula, Lillian and neighborhoods along Perdido Bay, Fish River and Magnolia River.

Since those announcements were made at a Wednesday afternoon briefing, the threat has grown. The National Hurricane Center’s 4 p.m. Thursday advisory showed Isaias as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, and hurricane and storm surge warnings cover the Alabama coast. Forecasters expect landfall late Friday or early Saturday, and the National Weather Service has warned of 5 to 7 feet of storm surge along portions of the coastline. On Thursday afternoon, Gov. Kay Ivey also ordered all non-residents, tourists and visitors out of Baldwin County areas south of the Intracoastal Waterway, including Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

Here is what Baldwin County residents need to know about shelters, transportation, sand, closures and staying safe as the storm arrives.

Where to find Baldwin County shelters

Two shelters are available for residents who need a safe place to ride out the storm. Officials urge anyone planning to use one to go early, while roads are still passable, and to confirm availability and any updated requirements before traveling.

• Baldwin County Coliseum, 19477 Fairground Road, Robertsdale. Opened Thursday, Oct. 8, at 3 p.m. This is the county’s general shelter and also offers a pet-friendly option at the same location. Emergency management officials estimated its capacity at about 300 people and said additional locations could be opened if needed.
• St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 506 N. Pine St., Foley. Scheduled to open Friday, Oct. 9, at 6 a.m. as a community “Safer Place” shelter operated with local Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster partners. It is open to anyone in the community who needs a safe place, including people who are unhoused or who do not want to stay in their homes. Meals will be provided. For information, call 251-256-8202.

Shelters provide a safe roof, not the comforts of home. Residents at either location are asked to bring their own bedding, such as a blanket and pillow, along with medications, personal hygiene items, identification and any other essentials they will need during their stay.

Bringing pets

The pet-friendly shelter at the Coliseum accepts domestic dogs and cats, with a limit of two per household, according to this year’s storm preparedness guide published in partnership with the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency. All pets must be current on rabies and core vaccinations, and owners must bring crates, food, water and other supplies, including any pet medications. More details are available on the Baldwin County EMA’s pet shelter page.

Free rides to shelters — while conditions allow

The Baldwin Regional Area Transit System, known as BRATS, is providing transportation to emergency shelters for residents who need it, including residents traveling with crated pets. Rides can be arranged by calling 251-972-6817 or 251-937-0355.

County officials stressed that the service has a firm limit. BRATS was expected to run through Friday morning, and once wind and rain reach unsafe levels, drivers will no longer be sent out. Commissioner Jeb Ball urged residents not to wait until the storm arrives to ask for a ride.

For people experiencing homelessness, the Sea Glass Initiative has offered transportation to an available shelter or safer place, with service ending later Friday morning for the safety of its staff and drivers. The organization can be reached at 251-332-3442.

Who should evacuate

Baldwin County officials have recommended voluntary evacuation for coastal areas and for flood-prone and low-lying communities. The cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach issued their own voluntary evacuation calls for residents in low-lying areas, and the governor’s Thursday proclamation now requires visitors and non-residents south of the Intracoastal Waterway to leave.

Baldwin County EMA Director Tom Tyler said coastal communities are the “usual suspects” for serious flooding and damage, and he singled out the Fort Morgan area.

“That is always a trouble area because of storm surge, and it’s a low-lying area,” Tyler said. “We also have areas around Perdido Bay, around Lillian, up Fish River, Magnolia River. Those are historically flooding areas because you know storm surge doesn’t just stay right there on the beach.”

Sheriff Anthony Lowery put it more simply. “If you are new here and you live in a low-lying area and you are in doubt, get out,” he said. Lowery said residents who are uncertain should make arrangements to leave, use a shelter or go to another jurisdiction outside Baldwin County or South Alabama.

Residents who do not know whether their property sits in a flood zone or flood-prone area can call the Baldwin County Building Department at 251-972-6837.

Gulf Shores spokesman Grant Brown summed up the guidance with a familiar emergency management rule: “You run from water and you hide from wind.” In other words, storm surge and flooding are the reasons to leave, while a sturdy home outside the surge zone may be the right place to shelter from wind.

Why first-time residents are a concern

County leaders have repeatedly pointed to Baldwin County’s rapid growth. Ball said an estimated 44,000 people have moved to the county since Hurricane Sally in 2020, which commissioners consider the county’s last major storm, and many have likely never experienced a hurricane.

“That’s why it’s important to stay weather ready,” Ball said.

Brown said many families in Gulf Shores may be facing their first serious tropical system and urged them to rely on official websites and local weather authorities rather than social media posts that may be outdated or misleading. Tyler made a similar point: “If you’re looking at an old forecast, you’re likely looking at an incorrect forecast.”

Officials also cautioned against judging Isaias by its category or by comparisons to past storms. Brown noted that the area had already received 9 to 10 inches of rain the previous week, leaving the ground saturated, and recalled how Hurricane Sally brought prolonged rain and wind while Hurricane Ivan in 2004 produced destructive surge that damaged Beach Boulevard and disrupted utilities along the coast.

Re-entry, sand and closures

Re-entry credentials: Gulf Shores and Orange Beach use vehicle decals to allow residents back onto the island and through checkpoints after an evacuation. Both cities said decals would not be distributed once a warning was issued, and Gulf Shores set a final deadline of noon Thursday. Residents who did not get a pass will still have an opportunity to obtain access authorization after the storm, according to Gulf Shores officials, who said the city may need to limit access depending on damage and safety conditions. Residents should follow official city channels for re-entry instructions.

Sand: Baldwin County has made sand available at the Baldwin County Central Annex, 22251 Palmer St., Robertsdale. Residents must bring their own sandbags and tools, including shovels. Several cities have offered sand at their own locations as well.

Closures: All Baldwin County government facilities are closed Friday, Oct. 9. Baldwin County Public Schools Superintendent Marty McRae closed all county public schools Friday for students and employees and canceled or rescheduled extracurricular activities, athletic events and field trips set for Friday and the weekend, a decision he said was made out of an abundance of caution so families would have more time to prepare.

Stay out of the Gulf — and off the roads

Lowery warned that once tropical storm-force winds arrive or roads flood, emergency crews will not be able to reach every call.

“We do have the ability to handle this, and we’re prepared for it,” Lowery said. “But we will reach a window where we cannot respond to calls. Once the winds pick up too much, or those roads become flooded, we will not be able to respond to some of these calls for emergencies.”

He was especially pointed about swimming. Dangerous surf and rip currents are expected before and after the storm, and water-rescue resources may be redirected to evacuations and keeping roads open.

“You would think that should go unsaid but unfortunately it seems like every time we have a storm or tropical event, people decide to test the waters of the Gulf and we have fatalities,” Lowery said, adding that the water will not be safe for swimming even on Saturday and Sunday after the storm passes. Officials ask residents and visitors to stay out of the Gulf until conditions are declared safe.

Never drive through flooded roads. Even shallow water can sweep a vehicle away, and the pavement underneath may be damaged or washed out. The rule remains: Turn Around, Don’t Drown.

Final checks for those staying home

For residents outside evacuation areas who are sheltering in place, Baldwin County EMA and city officials recommend:

• Bringing in or securing outdoor furniture, decorations, trash cans and anything else that could become a projectile. Do not put debris in ditches or drains, where it can block water and worsen flooding.
• Keeping drinking water on hand — Tyler advised a gallon per person per day — along with nonperishable food for at least 72 hours.
• Having medications, first-aid supplies, flashlights, extra batteries and a way to receive weather alerts.
• Charging phones and keeping some cash, since power outages can knock out card readers.
• Protecting identification, insurance papers and other important documents.
• Telling family where you will be. “If you happen to be one of the individuals planning to evacuate, be sure friends and loved ones know where you’re planning to go, when you anticipate getting there, and communicate when you arrive,” Tyler said.
• Running portable generators only outdoors, away from doors, windows and garages, to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, and using flashlights instead of candles.

Important Baldwin County storm numbers and resources

• Baldwin County EMA Call Center: 251-972-6807, for general storm information and assistance
• BRATS shelter transportation: 251-972-6817 or 251-937-0355
• St. Paul’s Episcopal Church shelter, Foley: 251-256-8202
• Sea Glass Initiative (transportation for unhoused residents): 251-332-3442
• Baldwin County Building Department (flood zone questions): 251-972-6837
• Emergencies: 911, for emergencies only

Residents can sign up for emergency notifications through the county’s Alert Baldwin system and follow updates from the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency, the City of Gulf Shores, the City of Orange Beach, the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service in Mobile. Preparedness checklists are also available through the federal government’s Ready campaign at Ready.gov.

Across the bay: Mobile County’s response

Mobile County commissioners declared their own local state of emergency Thursday morning and encouraged residents of Dauphin Island, south Mobile County and anyone staying in an RV or camper to evacuate voluntarily. County spokeswoman Sharee Broussard urged residents to be ready to support themselves for 72 hours. Mobile County shelters, including Baker and Theodore high schools, were set to open at 8 a.m. Friday, and Mobile County EMA Director Mike Evans asked residents to be off the roads and somewhere safe by noon Friday. Residents should check the Mobile County EMA website or app for the full list of shelters and services.

Baldwin officials say the goal is not panic but timely action. With thousands of newcomers possibly facing their first hurricane, they say knowing where to go, how to get there and when to leave could make all the difference in the hours ahead.