Hurricane Isaias Shelters, Evacuations and Closures: What Mobile and Baldwin Residents Need to Know

MOBILE, Ala. — With Hurricane Isaias expected to reach the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday, Hurricane Isaias shelters are opening in Mobile and Baldwin counties, visitors have been ordered off the beaches, and cities from Dauphin Island to Orange Beach have shut down offices, scheduled bridge closures and set out free sand for residents.

Federal forecasters, state leaders, county emergency managers and city halls issued a rapid series of bulletins between Wednesday, Oct. 7, and Thursday, Oct. 8, as Isaias grew from a tropical storm into a Category 2 hurricane over the Gulf. This guide pulls the local orders, shelter locations, service changes and phone numbers into one place. Conditions and official guidance can change quickly, so residents should confirm details with the agencies listed below.

Emergency declarations and evacuation orders

Gov. Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency for 40 Alabama counties, including Mobile and Baldwin, effective at 4 p.m. Wednesday. The declaration runs for seven days, through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, unless the governor extends or shortens it.

On Thursday afternoon, Ivey issued a supplemental proclamation ordering the mandatory evacuation of coastal tourists and visitors. Effective at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, all non-residents, tourists and visitors must leave the covered areas immediately and stay out until the state of emergency expires or the order is changed in writing. The covered areas are:

• All of Baldwin County south of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, including the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
• All of Zone 1 in Mobile County, including all of Dauphin Island and parts of Bayou La Batre.

The proclamation cites the Alabama Emergency Management Act, which allows the governor to compel the evacuation of part of the population from threatened areas during a declared emergency.

Local declarations came in quick succession Wednesday. The Orange Beach City Council called a special meeting and declared a local state of emergency effective at 3 p.m., authorizing the mayor to sign contracts needed to meet the emergency without public advertisement. The Baldwin County Commission and the City of Foley also declared local emergencies, and Gulf Shores joined them.

Before the governor’s order, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach jointly urged all non-residents, along with residents of low-lying and flood-prone areas, to evacuate voluntarily. “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. Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon added, “We haven’t had a voluntary evacuation in a long time, so we don’t take it lightly. Please help us by leaving the Islands so that we do what needs to be done.”

Baldwin County is encouraging a voluntary evacuation for residents of coastal and low-lying areas. The Town of Dauphin Island ordered the island’s west end, from Pirate’s Cove Street to the end of the island, evacuated as of 5 p.m. Thursday. Mobile County is urging residents to have a plan to evacuate voluntarily, particularly those in storm surge zones, flood-prone areas and manufactured homes, and Mobile County EMA Director Mike Evans advised residents to be in their safe places by midday Friday.

Where to find a shelter

Baldwin County

• Baldwin County Coliseum, 19477 Fairground Road, Robertsdale. The county shelter was scheduled to open at 3 p.m. Thursday. A pet-friendly shelter is available at the same location. Bring bedding, medications, personal items and identification.
• VOAD Community Shelter at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 506 N. Pine St., Foley. Opens at 6 a.m. Friday. Bring your own bedding, supplies and medications; meals will be provided. Information: 251-256-8202.
• BRATS transportation to shelters is available while conditions remain safe: 251-972-6817.
• Baldwin County Call Center: 251-972-6807.

Mobile County

• Theodore High School, 6201 Swedetown Road North, Theodore.
• Baker High School, 8901 Airport Blvd., Mobile.
• Cranford Burns Middle School, 6175 Girby Road, Mobile, a medical needs shelter with Mobile County Health Department personnel on site.

All three Mobile County shelters open at 8 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9. Residents who need transportation should call 2-1-1. Only trained service animals are allowed inside the Mobile County shelters; Mobile County Animal Shelter will station vehicles at each site to take household pets to the county animal shelter on Howells Ferry Road for care while their owners shelter.

Mobile County officials recommend bringing prescription medications and medical supplies, baby formula and diapers, food and water and personal necessities for up to 72 hours, bedding and pillows, hygiene items, and cleaning supplies such as hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes. Space is limited, and shelters will not offer the comforts of home. Officials say staying with family or friends outside the threatened area is often the best option for those who need to leave.

Bridges, curfews and getting back home

Bridges to the Baldwin County beaches will close when sustained winds reach 45 mph and will stay closed until the storm passes and conditions are safe. Orange Beach said all of its bridges will close at that threshold and told residents not to count on any bridge being open past noon Friday. Gulf Shores said the W.C. Holmes Bridge on Alabama 59 could close as early as noon Friday. On Dauphin Island, the causeway could also close depending on conditions.

Orange Beach announced that a curfew will take effect late Friday night into Saturday morning, and it urged sightseers to stay home Saturday so roads remain clear for emergency crews.

Re-entry credentials may be required after the storm:

• Gulf Shores: Residents and business operators may need a valid re-entry pass once re-entry begins. Those without one can obtain a pass after the storm at the new Gulf Shores Justice Center, 312 Medical Village Blvd.
• Orange Beach: Hurricane re-entry decals were issued at the city’s Finance office until 5 p.m. Thursday.
• Dauphin Island: Hurricane re-entry passes are available at Town Hall during normal business hours.

City offices, schools and services

Many government offices and schools are closed Friday:

• Baldwin County: All county facilities closed Friday, Oct. 9.
• Foley: Non-emergency city offices and facilities, including the city museums, Foley Community Library and the Interpretive Center at Graham Creek Nature Preserve, are closed Friday and scheduled to reopen Monday, Oct. 12. The Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermen’s Market is closed Saturday.
• Gulf Shores: All city offices and facilities closed Friday and until further notice. Police, Fire Rescue and Public Works continue to operate.
• Orange Beach: Non-essential offices and facilities closed at noon Thursday, and all city programs and activities are canceled. Emergency services remain fully staffed.
• Schools: Mobile County Public Schools, Baldwin County Public Schools, Archdiocese of Mobile schools in both counties, St. Paul’s Episcopal School and all Coastal Alabama Community College campuses are closed Friday. Baldwin County students were already scheduled for fall break and are expected back Thursday, Oct. 15. Orange Beach City Schools canceled classes Thursday; fall break begins Friday and classes are set to resume Tuesday.

Garbage collection: Foley’s residential garbage, recycling and green waste collection runs Friday, weather permitting, with routes starting an hour early; carts must be at the curb by 5 a.m. Saturday commercial routes in Foley will not run. In Orange Beach, Republic Services begins residential pickup at 4:30 a.m. Friday and trucks leave the island by 9:30 a.m., with the landfill closing late Friday morning. Orange Beach residents are asked to secure emptied carts away from the road and to stop placing debris on the right of way, because loose debris can become dangerous in high winds. The city’s debris contractor, DRC Emergency Services, is staged to begin cleanup once the storm passes.

Utilities in Orange Beach: Baldwin EMC said its control center is fully staffed; report outages at 251-989-6247. CMC Gas plans to keep service on for most of the city, with isolated shutoffs in flood-prone areas; its 24-hour emergency line is 1-800-449-3338. The Orange Beach Water Authority asks customers to turn off water to piers, boathouses, irrigation and accessory buildings, and to shut off water at the meter before evacuating; after-hours emergencies can be reported at 251-989-4651. The Orange Beach Sewer Department asks residents in flood-prone areas to turn off grinder pumps.

Dauphin Island water: Dauphin Island Water & Sewer plans to shut off service to the west end, from St. Denis Court westward, late Thursday or early Friday, and residents there will need to boil water after service is restored until the order is lifted.

Free sand and last-minute preparations

Self-service sand is available at several locations, though sandbags have been in short supply at times and residents are encouraged to bring their own bags and shovels where noted:

• Foley: Former Public Works site, 120 E. Orchid Ave., entered through the north gate at the east end of East Marigold Avenue behind South Baldwin County United Way. Sand and shovels are available.
• Gulf Shores: Gulf Shores Sportsplex, 19025 Oak Road West. Bring your own bags and shovels.
• Orange Beach: Behind City Hall, 4099 Orange Beach Blvd. Sand and bags while supplies last, and a shovel is provided.
• Baldwin County: Baldwin County Central Annex in Robertsdale, plus municipal sites in Daphne and Bay Minette.
• Dauphin Island: Town Public Works Department.

Foley Public Works crews spent the past week clearing ditches and drainage ways and are continuing that work ahead of the storm, the city said, because ground in some areas is still saturated from heavy rain the previous weekend and additional rainfall could quickly cause localized flooding.

Several Baldwin County cities have repeated the message “The first 72 is on you,” reminding residents to be ready to take care of themselves for at least three days after the storm, when responders will be focused on life-saving calls, clearing major roads and restoring critical services. Recommended steps include fueling vehicles; storing at least three days of water and nonperishable food; refilling prescriptions; charging phones and backup batteries; keeping flashlights, batteries and a weather radio on hand; securing outdoor furniture and loose items; protecting important documents from water; planning for pets and relatives who need extra help; and running generators only outdoors. Boat owners should secure vessels or move them to higher ground, and water lines to piers should be turned off.

Double-red flags are flying on the Baldwin County beaches, meaning the Gulf is closed to the public. Orange Beach’s beach conditions line is 251-981-SURF (7873).

Events called off

Isaias has wiped out a busy fall weekend. The National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores was canceled, as was the Dauphin Street Beer Festival in downtown Mobile. LODA ArtWalk moved its Halloween-themed event to Friday, Oct. 16, from 6 to 9 p.m., and Mobile Latin Fest moved to Sunday, Oct. 18, at Mardi Gras Park. On Dauphin Island, the Art Trail moved to Nov. 21 and the Oct. 11 Sunset Concert was canceled. Coastal Alabama Athletics canceled all activities Oct. 9-11, Archdiocese of Mobile events through Oct. 11 are postponed, and Baldwin County Public Schools canceled after-school and extracurricular activities through Saturday.

Forecasters continue to expect damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge of 5 to 7 feet along the Alabama coast and Mobile Bay, heavy rain and flash flooding, and tornadoes Friday night into Saturday. For the latest forecasts, check the National Hurricane Center at nhc.noaa.gov and the National Weather Service in Mobile at weather.gov/mob, along with the Mobile County and Baldwin County emergency management agencies and your city’s official channels. For emergencies, dial 911.