Ivey’s Mandatory Evacuation Orders Tourists Off Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Dauphin Island as Isaias Nears

GULF SHORES, Ala. — Visitors on Alabama’s coast are under orders to leave. Gov. Kay Ivey’s mandatory evacuation for tourists and other non-residents in south Baldwin County and Mobile County’s Zone 1 remains in effect Friday, Oct. 9, as Hurricane Isaias closes in on the northern Gulf Coast. Forecasters expect landfall Friday night or early Saturday.

The governor issued the executive proclamation Thursday afternoon, Oct. 8, at the request of local officials. It took effect at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. It covers every non-resident, tourist and visitor in Baldwin County south of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, which includes all of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, and in all of Zone 1 in Mobile County, which includes all of Dauphin Island and parts of Bayou La Batre.

The order stays in place until the state of emergency expires or is modified. Officials are urging anyone still at the beach to go now, before bridges close and the weather turns dangerous.

“Forecasts continue to show the real likelihood this hurricane will hit Alabama as early as Friday. Now is the time to prepare,” Ivey said in a statement Thursday. “At the request of local officials, we are requiring all tourists and visitors in Baldwin County south of the Intracoastal Waterway, as well as those in Dauphin Island in Mobile County, to evacuate immediately. Again, that means visitors in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Dauphin Island need to head home.”

Who has to leave and where the order applies

The order is aimed at people who are not permanent residents of the coastal areas it covers. The proclamation describes those areas as “all locations in Baldwin County south of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, including the City of Gulf Shores and the City of Orange Beach, and all of Zone 1 in Mobile County, including all of Dauphin Island and parts of Bayou La Batre.”

In practical terms:

• Baldwin County: All of the barrier-island beach communities south of the Intracoastal Waterway, including Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and the unincorporated areas between them and along the Fort Morgan peninsula south of the canal.
• Mobile County: Evacuation Zone 1, which includes all of Dauphin Island and parts of Bayou La Batre.
• Who is covered: Tourists, vacationers, short-term renters and other non-residents.
• When it began: 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.
• How long it lasts: Until the state of emergency expires or is modified.

The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway runs east to west across south Baldwin County and separates the beach communities from the mainland. Getting off the island side means crossing a bridge, which is why officials keep pointing to bridge closures as the real deadline for leaving.

The order does not require full-time residents to leave. Baldwin County has declared a local state of emergency and is encouraging voluntary evacuations for anyone, resident or visitor, living in low-lying and flood-prone areas. Residents in those areas should take that advice seriously, especially given the storm surge forecast.

Bridges could close by Friday afternoon

Officials have repeatedly warned visitors not to wait. All bridges to the coastal islands will close once sustained winds reach 45 mph. Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism told visitors in its storm update not to count on bridges staying open past noon Friday and to plan their travel with that in mind. State and local officials have also warned that the bridges could close as early as Friday afternoon.

Leaving early also helps emergency crews. In its update, the tourism agency passed along the cities’ message that leaving now “will help reduce congestion, support emergency operations, and ensure the safety of those who may be most vulnerable during the storm.”

Traffic was already building on Thursday. Northbound lanes of the Foley Beach Express, now designated State Route 161, were jammed Thursday morning as people began leaving on their own. Officials said northbound evacuation routes, including Interstate 65, saw heavier traffic as the day went on. Marinas were also emptying, and boat ramps were busy as owners pulled vessels out of the water.

Visitors leaving the beaches should:

• Leave as early as possible and expect heavy traffic on northbound routes such as the Foley Beach Express/State Route 161, State Route 59 and I-65.
• Fill up on fuel when they can. Some coastal gas stations have reported running out.
• Check road conditions and follow directions from law enforcement and local emergency officials.
• Keep in mind that once sustained winds reach 45 mph, the bridges will close and leaving the islands will no longer be possible.

What forecasters expect from Isaias

Isaias became a hurricane Thursday. The National Hurricane Center said it was a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, and forecasters expected more strengthening before landfall. On the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, Category 2 covers sustained winds of 96 to 110 mph. Storms in that range can do major damage to roofs, siding, trees and power lines.

The coast is under a hurricane warning and a storm surge warning. A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected in the warning area, generally within about 36 hours. A storm surge warning means life-threatening flooding from rising water moving inland from the coast is expected.

Here is what forecasters and local officials expect, based on Thursday’s forecasts:

• Landfall: The forecast cone covers the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the Alabama Gulf Coast and the area around Destin, Florida, with landfall expected around midnight Friday night or early Saturday. The exact track could change.
• Wind: Tropical storm-force winds of 39 to 73 mph could arrive by late Friday morning. Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism said Alabama’s beaches could see sustained winds of 74 to 110 mph, with hurricane-force winds near the storm’s center.
• Storm surge: The National Weather Service forecast 5 to 7 feet of storm surge for Alabama’s beaches and Mobile Bay if the peak surge arrives at high tide.
• Rain and flooding: Heavy rain near the center and on the storm’s east side could cause significant flash flooding. A flood watch takes effect at 1 p.m. Friday.
• Tornadoes: Isolated tornadoes are possible in both coastal and inland areas.
• Surf: The risk of life-threatening rip currents is high through Friday and Saturday, with dangerous surf and breakers of 20 to 25 feet forecast on the east side of the storm.

Both Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are flying double red flags, which means the Gulf is closed to the public. The storm surf may look appealing, but officials say it is deadly and everyone needs to stay out of the water.

Ivey: ‘Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.’

Ivey declared a state of emergency Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 7, for Mobile, Baldwin and 38 other counties, 40 in all, while Isaias was still a tropical storm. According to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, the state emergency declaration runs through Wednesday, Oct. 14. Ivey issued the evacuation order Thursday, after the storm reached hurricane strength and local leaders asked for it.

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

The governor also mentioned the Alabama football team, which plays this weekend. “After all, we only want to see one Tide roll this weekend,” she said. “Y’all be safe, heed local warnings and stay weather aware.”

A governor’s state of emergency lets the state move resources, people and equipment quickly, and it gives local governments more room to respond. It also triggers Alabama’s price-gouging law. While the emergency is in effect, merchants may not charge unconscionable prices for essentials such as food, water, gasoline, ice and lodging. Residents who suspect price gouging can report it to the Alabama Attorney General’s Office.

For visitors with reservations and travel plans

Many people who were planning a fall beach trip are now trying to change their plans. Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism said guests who booked lodging through the Alabama’s Beaches tourism website should contact the merchant of record listed in their confirmation email and have their confirmation number ready. Anyone who booked another way should contact the company they booked with.

Air travel is affected too. Gulf Shores International Airport has announced it will close to all operations except emergency services at noon Friday and hopes to reopen Saturday morning after a post-storm safety check. Allegiant, the airport’s only commercial carrier, has issued a travel alert from Friday, Oct. 9, through Oct. 12 and is contacting passengers about cancellations and delays. Allegiant can be reached at 702-505-8888.

Weekend events are falling away as well. The 53rd annual National Shrimp Festival, which usually brings large crowds to the Gulf Shores public beach on the second weekend of October, has been canceled. The Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, which organizes the festival, said the forecast of high winds, heavy surf and rain meant “the safety of our visitors, vendors, volunteers, and staff must remain our top priority.”

On the beach Thursday, many visitors were already leaving

On Thursday in Orange Beach, many visitors were deciding whether to leave right away or squeeze in a few more hours before heading north.

Michael Gray of Huntsville came down for his anniversary. “We actually came down here, had it planned, and realized a hurricane was going to blow in,” he said. “We came down here to have a nice little getaway; it’s our anniversary.”

Misty Muse, who is also from north Alabama, said her group was supposed to stay through Monday but planned to leave the next morning. “We don’t want to see it firsthand,” she said.

Chris Cottrill, from Knoxville, Tennessee, decided to leave earlier than planned. “Instead of waiting till tomorrow morning, we will go ahead and get out this afternoon, and we will caravan out of here with everybody else,” he said.

Boat owners were also moving. Orange Beach resident Bobby Radcliffe loaded his 39-foot Contender onto a trailer Thursday. “Better safe than sorry,” he said. “When you’ve got millions of dollars in assets, you’ve got to protect them.”

Many coastal residents still remember Hurricane Sally, which made landfall near Gulf Shores in September 2020. The slow-moving Category 2 storm dropped torrential rain on Baldwin County and badly damaged homes, marinas and boats. Many people on the water this week said that experience is why they are moving early.

Shelters, closures and how to stay informed

Public storm shelters are open for people who need them. They include the Baldwin County Coliseum in Robertsdale, which offers pet-friendly space, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Foley. In Mobile County, residents should follow Mobile County Emergency Management Agency announcements for shelter information.

State buildings in nine south Alabama counties and city facilities in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Foley are closing non-essential operations ahead of the storm.

Officials recommend these ways to stay informed:

• Alert Baldwin: The Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency’s alert system sends updates before, during and after a disaster, along with automated National Weather Service messages.
• National Weather Service Mobile/Pensacola: The local forecast office at weather.gov/mob has the latest local forecasts, watches and warnings.
• National Hurricane Center: Official advisories, forecast cones and storm surge information are posted at nhc.noaa.gov.
• City channels: The cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, the Town of Dauphin Island and local emergency management agencies are posting updates on road conditions, bridge closures and reentry.

Residents staying behind should finish their hurricane plans early Friday. That means securing outdoor furniture and anything else the wind could pick up, getting boats out of the water, charging phones and keeping enough water, food, medicine and supplies for several days. Once the storm arrives, officials say people should stay where they are and stay off the roads.

Visitors who leave should not expect to come back right away. Bridges will reopen only after the storm passes and crews check roads and infrastructure, and residents are typically allowed back before visitors. Watch for official announcements before heading south.