Alabama’s beaches are open to visitors again. Gov. Kay Ivey on Saturday, Oct. 10, lifted the Isaias evacuation order that had required tourists and other nonresidents to leave parts of Baldwin and Mobile counties, signaling that the state has moved from bracing for Hurricane Isaias to cleaning up after it. Within hours, bridges onto Pleasure Island were carrying traffic again, overnight curfews had expired and tourism officials were telling travelers they may return to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan.
The reopening comes with important caveats. Crews are still clearing debris and restoring electricity, some roads remain blocked by downed power lines, a state of emergency remains in place for other purposes, and the Gulf itself is closed to swimmers under double red flags. Here is what residents and visitors need to know about the return to the coast.
Ivey ends the evacuation order
Ivey had issued the mandatory evacuation for nonresidents on Thursday afternoon, Oct. 8, at the request of local officials, as Isaias strengthened in the Gulf. The order covered tourists and visitors in Baldwin County south of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, which includes all of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, as well as Mobile County’s Zone 1, which includes Dauphin Island.
Isaias made landfall Friday night, Oct. 9, near Destin, Fla., as a Category 2 hurricane and moved quickly north across the region. By Saturday, following consultations with the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, state officials determined that the conditions that made the evacuation necessary no longer existed. The governor rescinded the order effective immediately on Saturday.
Ivey spoke Saturday morning with Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Cameron Hamilton and stayed in contact with Alabama EMA Director Jeff Smitherman as crews worked across the state. She said the storm brought heavy winds that toppled trees, knocked out electricity and caused damage in multiple communities.
“Unfortunately, we have also learned that two Alabamians have lost their lives,” Ivey said in a statement. “I am praying for their loved ones this morning.”
The governor thanked emergency personnel, utility workers and others involved in the response. “I offer my sincere thanks, too, for the various crews we have positioned throughout the state who have been diligently working to clear debris and restore power,” she said. “That is the focus right now.”
What remains in effect
Lifting the evacuation does not mean every emergency measure has ended. Ivey ended the proclamation that required nonresidents to leave the coast, but officials in Gulf Shores said all other protective provisions under the governor’s Oct. 7 and Oct. 9 state of emergency declarations remain active.
That includes Alabama’s protections against price gouging. Under state law, those protections apply during a declared state of emergency and are meant to prevent sellers from charging unconscionable prices for essential goods and services, such as food, water, fuel, lodging, building materials and repair work, while communities recover. Residents who believe they have been overcharged can report it to the Alabama Attorney General’s Office.
Keeping the emergency declaration in place also helps state and local agencies continue to coordinate resources and move crews and supplies where they are needed during the recovery phase.
Bridges reopen and curfews expire
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach sit on a barrier island separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway, so the bridges over the canal are the only road links on and off the island. Both cities closed those bridges at noon Friday as winds increased and ordered overnight curfews from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday.
After a thorough assessment, Gulf Shores public safety crews determined that roads and bridges were safe for travel. The curfew expired at 7 a.m. Saturday, and at the same hour two key bridges reopened to traffic:
- The W.C. Holmes Bridge, which carries Alabama 59 into Gulf Shores.
- The Alabama 161 South Bridge, along the Alabama Beaches Parkway in Orange Beach.
Tourism officials later confirmed that all bridges to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan were open and that the overnight curfews had ended. Ivey said all major roadways in the state had reopened, including the Intracoastal Waterway corridors.
Not every road is clear. The governor said some roads remain closed because of downed power lines. In Escambia County, crews were still working Saturday to reopen a section of U.S. 31 north of Brewton. City officials in Gulf Shores thanked residents for their patience and cooperation as the recovery continues.
Drive with care: dark signals are four-way stops
With power still out in many areas, officials repeatedly reminded drivers that any intersection with a dark or flashing traffic signal must be treated as a four-way stop. Drivers should come to a complete stop, yield the right-of-way as appropriate and proceed only when it is safe.
Officials also asked motorists to watch for utility linemen and emergency crews working along roadways. Conditions can change quickly as crews move equipment, cut trees and repair lines. A few practical reminders for anyone on the road in the days after a hurricane:
- Slow down and move over for utility trucks, tree crews and emergency vehicles.
- Never drive over or near a downed power line, and assume every line is energized.
- Do not drive through standing water; it can hide washouts, debris and live wires.
- Be alert for debris in travel lanes, especially at night.
- Avoid unnecessary trips so crews have room to work.
“Fellow Alabamians, please continue being smart today as cleanup continues,” Ivey said. “Safety for y’all is the main thing today.”
Advice for visitors planning a return
Coastal Alabama tourism officials said visitors may return to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan but urged them to plan carefully. Because cleanup and power restoration are still underway, travelers should confirm their plans with their lodging provider and with any businesses they intend to visit before they leave home.
Visitors who hold reservations should contact the merchant of record listed in their confirmation email, or the company they booked through, and have their confirmation number ready. That applies both to travelers hoping to resume an interrupted stay and to those trying to sort out a trip cut short by the evacuation.
Tourism officials also extended their thoughts and prayers to everyone in Alabama affected by the storm and to neighbors to the east and north who were hit harder. Gulf Coast communities have always supported one another, they said, and the region is standing with its neighbors as they recover.
The Gulf is closed to swimmers
Visitors returning to the sand should not expect to get in the water. Double red flags are flying across Alabama’s beaches because of life-threatening rip currents and dangerous surf. Double red flags mean the water is closed to the public, and officials have warned that entering the Gulf while they are posted can bring fines or arrest.
Tourism officials cautioned that storm surf may look inviting but can be deadly, and that rough surf can linger for several days after a storm. Forecasters expect the high rip current risk to continue through Sunday before easing early in the week. Everyone should check the beach flags before entering the water once conditions improve.
Flights and the airport
Gulf Shores International Airport, which halted operations at noon Friday ahead of the storm, is open and showed no apparent storm damage, according to tourism officials. Allegiant, the airport’s commercial carrier, will contact affected travelers directly about their flights.
Travelers who planned to fly into the region through Florida should note that Pensacola International Airport remained closed after the storm. Anyone with a flight there should check with their airline before heading out.
Shrimp Festival will not return this year
One casualty of the storm will not be rescheduled. The annual National Shrimp Festival, which had been set to take over the Gulf Shores beachfront this weekend, was canceled earlier in the week because of Isaias. Questions about the festival may be directed to the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, which organizes the event.
Recovery is the focus
For residents of coastal Alabama, the end of the evacuation order marks a shift in priorities rather than a return to normal. The City of Gulf Shores and the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency said they will continue to post localized updates on power restoration and municipal services as crews work through the damage.
Residents cleaning up their own property should follow standard post-storm safety guidance from FEMA and public health officials: run generators only outdoors and well away from windows and doors to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, wear gloves and sturdy shoes when handling debris, photograph damage before making repairs for insurance purposes, and be wary of unsolicited contractors who demand large payments up front.
For visitors, the message from state and local leaders is that the coast is ready to welcome them back, with patience. Call ahead, drive carefully, respect the flags and give the crews working to restore the area plenty of room.
