Isaias Power Outages Top 95,000 in Alabama as Storm Batters Mobile and Baldwin Counties

MOBILE, Ala. — Isaias power outages climbed past 95,000 Alabama utility customers Friday evening, Oct. 9, before the hurricane’s center had even reached the coast, with the heaviest losses piling up in Baldwin and Mobile counties as wind-driven rain bands pushed ashore and utility crews were forced off the roads for the night.

By about 7 p.m. Friday, an online tracker that compiles utility outage reports from across the country showed 95,487 customers without electricity statewide. Baldwin County accounted for 38,122 of those outages and Mobile County for 35,160, together making up more than three-quarters of the state’s total at that hour. Counts kept rising as the night went on, and utilities warned that full restoration would take time once the storm moved out.

Latest update: Riviera restores 16,417 meters, gas back on in Gulf Shores

Oct. 9, 9 p.m. — Riviera Utilities said that as of 9 p.m. Friday it had restored 16,417 meters, while about 13,000 meters remained without service. The utility reported widespread outages after Hurricane Isaias, with numerous reports of downed power lines, fallen trees and other storm damage across its system.

Some Riviera crews were already working in areas where winds had died down. After engineers complete initial damage assessments, crews were expected to begin widespread restoration between midnight and 1 a.m. as conditions allowed. More than 100 contract lineworkers are on site to help, with additional mutual aid crews on standby if needed, and the utility said it will prioritize repairs that restore power to the greatest number of customers first.

Riviera also said crews had restored natural gas service to the affected system in Gulf Shores and were ready to help customers relight appliances and restore service to their homes. Customers must contact Riviera Utilities to request service restoration and must be present at the property when crews arrive. Crews are ready to respond in Gulf Shores as requests come in.

Earlier Friday, at a 4 p.m. National Hurricane Center briefing, Deputy Director Jamie Rhome said Isaias had held its intensity through the day as a Category 3 hurricane, with peak winds measured at 115 mph, a slight drop from earlier, and pressure at 959 millibars. Forecasters at that time projected landfall around 7 p.m. near Navarre Beach, Fla., which would leave Baldwin and Mobile counties on the west side of the eye. Rhome noted the storm was moving faster and growing larger, meaning heavy winds would still reach the Alabama coast.

“But by no means should you be distracted by these sorts of fluctuations because they aren’t going to change the impacts to the coast over the next couple of hours,” Rhome said.

Where the outages stood Friday night

Outage figures changed by the hour Friday as the storm’s outer bands, and then its core, swept across the northern Gulf Coast. Different trackers and utility maps update on different schedules, so totals from one source do not always match another at the same moment. Here is how the numbers moved through the evening, according to utility reports and outage trackers:

Statewide snapshot, about 7:10 p.m.

• Total Alabama customers without power: 95,487
• Baldwin County: 38,122
• Mobile County: 35,160
• Alabama Power customers out: 46,062
• Baldwin EMC customers out: 19,055
• Riviera Utilities customers out: 17,957

Baldwin County through the evening

• 5 p.m.: Riviera Utilities reported 7,267 meters without power out of 60,298 it serves. Baldwin EMC reported 8,044 meters out of 93,877 served. Alabama Power reported 673 customers affected in unincorporated Baldwin County, out of 8,042 it serves there.
• 7:45 p.m.: Nearly 46,000 Baldwin County customers were without power.
• 8:30 p.m.: The Baldwin County total had grown to nearly 69,000.

Utility-by-utility counts, 8:46 p.m.

• Alabama Power, Mobile County: 36,285 customers without power
• Alabama Power, Baldwin County: 1,491 customers without power
• Baldwin EMC, Baldwin County: 37,270 customers without power
• Riviera Utilities, Baldwin County: 19,367 customers without power

Just across the state line, Florida Power & Light Co. reported 82,000 customers out in Escambia County, Fla., 12,130 in Santa Rosa County and 33,630 in Okaloosa County as of 8:46 p.m., reflecting how widely the storm’s winds spread along the Panhandle.

A strong storm on the doorstep

Isaias, the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane Friday morning. Reports through the day put its maximum sustained winds between about 115 and 125 mph as the intensity fluctuated, with higher gusts. Forecasters projected landfall Friday night near the Alabama-Florida line along the Florida Panhandle, and they said that while the storm was expected to weaken after moving inland, it would “remain a dangerous hurricane.”

The National Hurricane Center also discussed the possibility of stronger-than-expected winds on the storm’s west side, which would place Mobile and Baldwin counties in the path of damaging gusts even with the center coming ashore to the east. Along with wind, the storm brought heavy rain, flooding and the threat of isolated tornadoes.

National Weather Service warnings covered most of Alabama on Friday. Hurricane warnings were in effect for counties including Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Conecuh and Covington. Tropical storm warnings stretched north through Montgomery, Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, and a high wind warning was set to take effect early Saturday for north Alabama counties including Madison. The weather service expected gusts of 50 to 65 mph across the tropical storm warning area Friday night into Saturday, strong enough to bring down trees and power lines. Meteorologist James Spann wrote Friday that long-duration power outages were possible on the coast and across much of inland Alabama.

Baldwin EMC pulls crews in for the night

Baldwin EMC, the member-owned electric cooperative headquartered in Summerdale that serves much of Baldwin County, activated its natural disaster response plan Friday morning so it could focus on the hurricane. Its crews were busy early: Friday morning the cooperative responded to an outage affecting more than 700 meters along Alabama 59 in Gulf Shores, where traffic lights were dark from south of the Holmes Bridge down to the beach area. The Holmes Bridge, which carries Alabama 59 over the Intracoastal Waterway, closed at noon, stopping traffic in both directions.

“All storm preparations are complete and our crews are ready to respond,” the cooperative said earlier in the day. “We anticipate outages as the outer rain bands and winds move onshore. Crews will respond and make repairs as long as it is safe to do so.”

By 3:30 p.m., Baldwin EMC was tracking 17 outages affecting 213 meters. At 4 p.m., it said it was working to restore widespread outages caused by the hurricane’s outer bands and would continue as long as conditions allowed crews to work safely. As the evening wore on and the numbers soared into the tens of thousands, the cooperative announced it was calling its crews in.

“We have reached the point where, due to increasing wind speeds and the safety of our crews, we must pull them in for the evening,” Baldwin EMC said. “We have received reports from crews across our service territory of trees and power lines down. With the saturated soil conditions, we anticipated significant tree damage and impacts to our system.”

The cooperative urged members to use extreme caution and stay indoors, adding that downed power lines should always be considered energized and extremely dangerous.

“Our crews will be back out at daybreak to assess the damage and begin the hard work of cutting trees, clearing lines, replacing damaged infrastructure, and restoring power as safely and quickly as possible,” the cooperative said.

Baldwin EMC said it would share damage and outage updates on its social media channels and website as reports come in, and thanked members for their patience. “Stay safe, everyone!” the message ended.

Alabama Power brings in 5,700 extra workers from 25 states

Alabama Power, the Birmingham-based utility that serves 1.6 million customers, said Friday it was bringing in more than 5,700 additional resources from 25 states and staging crews and equipment ahead of Isaias. The company said it had adjusted work schedules and positioned crews so restoration could begin once the storm passes and it is safe to work.

“Preparation is one of the most important parts of storm response,” said Scott Moore, senior vice president of Power Delivery for Alabama Power. “Our teams train and plan for events like this throughout the year, and that preparation gives us the flexibility to make informed decisions and adapt as the forecast and potential impacts become clearer.”

“Our teams prepare for storms like this well before the first rain drops arrive,” the company said. “That gives us the ability to begin responding as safely and quickly as conditions allow if outages occur.”

Alabama Power’s online Storm Center features a video in which Spann and Meredith Morgan, a Power Delivery engineer for the company, discuss storm preparation and safety ahead of Isaias.

Customers can report an outage online, through the Alabama Power mobile app or by calling 800-888-2726. Outage alerts are available by texting “Enroll” to APCOUT (272688) from a cellphone registered to an Alabama Power account. The company’s outage map shows outages by county, ZIP code, city or municipality.

Riviera Utilities: contract crews on site, gas shut off in Gulf Shores

Riviera Utilities, the Foley-based public utility that provides electricity, natural gas, water and wastewater service in south Baldwin County and on the Eastern Shore, said it was running a live outage map around the clock and would bring in crews from other areas if needed.

In the afternoon, before the worst of the wind arrived, Riviera said it had restored eight outages affecting 864 meters as of its 3 p.m. update, with fewer than 20 meters still out at that point.

“Riviera Utilities has more than 100 contract lineworkers on-site and actively arriving to assist with power restoration efforts. Additional mutual aid crews, including personnel from Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA), are traveling to our service area to provide support,” the utility said.

Riviera also announced it would shut off natural gas service to designated areas of Gulf Shores as a precaution. All customers located east, west and south of West 12th Avenue were affected.

“This decision is being made in the interest of public safety and in accordance with Riviera Utilities’ emergency response procedures. We recognize the inconvenience this interruption may cause, but protecting our customers, employees and community remains our highest priority,” the utility said. “We are unable to provide an estimated restoration time. Our crews will assess conditions and begin the process of safely restoring service as soon as circumstances allow. Evacuees can schedule their pilot relight appointment once they return and work conditions are safe.”

Why crews can’t work during the storm

Every utility on the coast delivered the same message Friday: repairs stop when the wind gets too strong. Utilities generally keep bucket trucks on the ground when sustained winds approach tropical-storm strength, and falling limbs, flying debris and flooded roads add to the danger.

Once the storm passes, restoration usually follows a set order. Utilities first assess damage, often by driving lines and inspecting substations. They then repair the transmission lines and substations that feed large areas, followed by main distribution lines serving critical facilities such as hospitals, water and sewer plants and emergency services, and the largest numbers of customers. Smaller tap lines and individual service connections come after that. A home can stay dark even when neighbors’ lights are back on if its individual service line or the equipment serving a few houses was damaged.

Saturated ground, which Baldwin EMC pointed to Friday, makes the job harder. Trees in waterlogged soil topple more easily in strong wind, and a single large tree can take down several spans of line and break poles that must be replaced before power can flow again.

What customers should do now

Utilities asked customers to be patient and to check their provider’s website or outage map for estimated repair times, cautioning that weather will likely cause delays in some areas. Power companies along the coast also urged residents to avoid contact with conductors of electricity, such as appliances and water, during the storm.

“We encourage our customers to stay weather aware, follow guidance from local officials, have multiple ways to receive weather alerts, and make sure phones and other essential devices are charged,” Alabama Power said.

“Above all, put safety first,” the company added. “Stay away from downed or hanging power lines and never attempt to remove limbs or debris that may be touching electrical equipment.”

Other steps residents can take while the power is out:

• Know your utility. South Alabama is served by several electric providers. Report outages to the company that sends your bill, whether that is Alabama Power, Baldwin EMC, Riviera Utilities or another provider.
• Treat every downed line as live. Keep children and pets away, do not drive over lines and report them to your utility or 911.
• Use generators safely. Run portable generators only outdoors and well away from doors, windows and vents to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, and never connect one directly to home wiring without a properly installed transfer switch, which can send power back into the lines and endanger lineworkers.
• Protect food. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Federal food safety guidance says a closed refrigerator keeps food cold for about four hours, and a full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours.

The bigger picture

Gov. Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency for 40 counties on Wednesday, Oct. 7. On Thursday she ordered tourists and visitors to leave Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Dauphin Island, and she closed state offices in nine south Alabama counties beginning at noon Friday.

“We often hear in emergency management: Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst,” Ivey said in a video message. “That is the approach we need with this particular storm system.”

Utilities said damage assessments would begin at first light Saturday. The scale of those assessments, along with how quickly outside crews can reach the hardest-hit areas, will determine how long it takes to bring the lights back on across Mobile and Baldwin counties.

Update: Crews restore power to thousands Saturday as Alabama outages fall below 173,000

Oct. 10 — Utility crews made steady progress Saturday, Oct. 10, after Hurricane Isaias knocked out power across much of Alabama, though tens of thousands of homes and businesses remained dark by late afternoon. At the height of the storm, outages statewide topped 300,000 customers. By 3 p.m. Saturday, outage-tracking data compiled from utilities across the state showed 172,646 customers still without electricity.

Isaias, which made landfall Friday night near Destin, Fla., as a Category 2 hurricane, had weakened to a post-tropical system by Saturday morning. The National Weather Service was still collecting reports of rain and wind damage Saturday, including numerous reports of flash flooding late Friday and overnight and many downed trees. No tornadoes had been reported, though high winds were expected to linger through the day.

Where the outages stood at 3 p.m. Saturday

By Saturday afternoon, several of the largest outage totals were in southeast Alabama’s Wiregrass region, with Mobile County close behind. The counties with the most customers without power were:

• Houston County: 19,615 customers
• Coffee County: 16,101 customers
• Mobile County: 15,384 customers
• Geneva County: 12,116 customers, or 73.4% of those tracked
• Conecuh County: 578 customers, or 99.5% of those tracked, leaving nearly the entire county dark

Baldwin County saw one of the sharpest improvements of the day. Earlier Saturday, 23,140 Baldwin County customers were without power; by 3 p.m., that number had fallen to 9,213. Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency said in its morning update that more than 146,000 customers had their power restored by Saturday morning.

Alabama Power: more than 130,000 restored by late morning

Alabama Power spokesperson Beth Thomas said the utility’s early restorations accounted for nearly 32% of all affected customers as of 7 a.m. By 11 a.m., service had been restored to more than 130,000 of the more than 267,000 Alabama Power customers who lost power during the storm.

In southwest Alabama, about 25,000 customers had their service restored by late afternoon, but about 27,000 remained without power, Thomas said. More than 6,400 additional support personnel had joined the company’s response team, up from the more than 5,700 outside workers the utility said it was bringing in before the storm.

Thomas said the hardest-hit areas, including Escambia and Monroe counties, could be without power for several days as crews work around the clock.

“Isaias has caused widespread power outages. We know how disruptive and frustrating it is to be without power, and we appreciate your patience as we work to get everyone back on. Even if you don’t see crews, we are checking the storm damage and clearing trees to restore power quickly and safely,” Alabama Power said in a message to customers Saturday.

Baldwin EMC: from 52,300 meters out to fewer than 7,000

Baldwin EMC said that at the peak of the storm, more than 52,300 of its meters were without power after transmission losses affected five substations. Mark Ingram, the cooperative’s vice president of corporate services and public relations, said that even without a direct landfall, the area experienced major impacts, with crews finding a significant number of downed trees and power lines throughout the service area.

By 9:30 a.m. Saturday, the cooperative had restored service to more than 32,500 meters, leaving 17,415 still out. By 4 p.m., about 6,876 meters remained without power, and more than 45,000 had been restored since the storm came ashore Friday evening. The remaining outages broke down this way:

• North of Interstate 10: 656 members
• Between Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 98: 3,112 members
• South of U.S. Highway 98: 3,108 members

The cooperative mobilized its basecamp in Summerdale on Saturday morning to receive more than 400 additional personnel, and said nearly 300 contract and mutual aid line workers from other cooperatives would assist through the weekend. Crews are working in stages, starting with main circuits before moving to three-phase lines, single-phase lines, individual taps and service lines, and restoration times will vary depending on location and the severity of the damage.

“Our service territory covers more than 1,000 square miles, and many of the remaining outages are at individual homes and neighborhoods,” Ingram said. “Having extra boots on the ground helps us get those resolved faster.”

Ingram also warned about generator safety as many residents turn to portable units.

“A generator connected directly to a home’s electrical system without a properly installed transfer switch can send high voltage electricity back onto power lines, including downed wires. This is extremely dangerous and potentially deadly, so we urge everyone to stay far away from downed lines,” he said.

Bay Minette work halted Friday night

The pause in repair work Friday night reached north Baldwin County as well. The City of Bay Minette announced that Baldwin EMC and Alabama Power could not restore power in affected areas for the rest of Friday night because wind speeds were too dangerous for workers to operate equipment. City officials urged residents to stay inside, avoid unnecessary travel and report downed power lines or tree limbs to the city.

Reporting outages

Both utilities asked customers who are still without power to report outages directly to their provider, and to treat every downed line as live and dangerous. Residents should also stay clear of fallen trees and debris, which may be hiding damaged lines.