Mobile Civil Emergency in Effect as Hurricane Isaias Nears: Closures, Shelters and What to Know

MOBILE, Ala. — A Mobile civil emergency is in effect Friday, Oct. 9, as Hurricane Isaias closes in on the northern Gulf Coast, with city offices shut down, three public shelters open across Mobile County and officials urging residents to finish their preparations and stay off the roads once the storm arrives.

Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis issued the civil emergency proclamation for the City of Mobile to run from 8 a.m. Friday until 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. City officials said the declaration may be adjusted as conditions change. Mobile County is under hurricane and storm surge warnings, and forecasters have warned of dangerous winds, heavy rain, flooding and the possibility of widespread power outages from Friday into Saturday.

“Stay inside. Stay safe. Now is the time to get prepared,” Cheriogotis said at a news conference Thursday at the Mobile Police Department’s First Precinct on Dauphin Island Parkway. “If you haven’t gotten a little extra water, made sure the batteries in your flashlight are working, now is the time.”

What is closed Friday

Much of Mobile County’s routine daily activity is coming to a halt for the storm. All City of Mobile offices, departments and Municipal Court are closed Friday, while city leaders coordinate storm preparations with police, firefighters and other first responders. Gov. Kay Ivey has said state government offices in Mobile and Baldwin counties will close at noon Friday.

Other closures announced ahead of the storm include:

• Schools: Mobile County Public Schools, along with the Saraland, Satsuma and Chickasaw city school systems and Catholic schools, are closed Friday. Bishop State Community College is also closed.
• Federal services: The VA outpatient clinic in Mobile is closed Friday.
• Libraries: Mobile Public Library locations are closed Friday and Saturday.
• Recycling: City recycling centers are closed Friday and Saturday.
• Health care: Some outpatient medical facilities are closing or adjusting their hours. Anyone with a Friday appointment should confirm it before leaving home.

Regular Friday garbage collection remains on the schedule. City officials asked residents to bring their trash cans back inside as soon as possible after pickup so they do not become projectiles in high winds.

Many bars, restaurants and other businesses, including in downtown Mobile’s dining and entertainment district, have announced plans to close, though not every establishment has made an announcement. Customers should check directly with a business before heading out. Police, firefighters, emergency medical crews and other essential workers remain on duty throughout the emergency.

The storm has also scrambled the city’s weekend calendar. Friday’s Halloween-themed LoDa ArtWalk has been moved to Friday, Oct. 16, and Mobile Latin Fest has been rescheduled for Oct. 18. Saturday’s Fall Market in the Park and the Dauphin Street Beer Festival have been canceled. Beer festival ticket holders should contact the bar where they bought their tickets to request a refund. The Mobile Symphony’s weekend performances and several other events have also been postponed.

Public shelters and free rides

Mobile County opened three public shelters at 8 a.m. Friday:

• Theodore High School, 6201 Swedetown Road North, Theodore — general population shelter and medical needs shelter.
• Baker High School, 8901 Airport Blvd., Mobile — general population shelter.
• Collins-Rhodes Elementary School, 5110 St. Stephens Road, Eight Mile — general population shelter.

Second Line Transit is providing rides to the shelters Friday for residents who need help getting there. According to the city, passengers must board at the Shoppes of Bel-Air by 9:30 a.m. Riders must bring valid identification and meet the shelters’ entry requirements.

The shelters do not accept pets, but the Mobile County Animal Shelter will help residents who arrive with animals. Second Line Transit said it will announce details later if additional transportation is needed Sunday for pickups from the shelters.

Emergency managers generally advise people heading to a public shelter to bring items they will need for at least a few days, such as medications, bedding, a change of clothes, toiletries, phone chargers and any special items for children or older family members. Shelters provide a safe place to ride out the storm, but they are not hotels, and space and comforts are limited.

Downtown and low-lying areas face surge threat

The National Weather Service has warned that storm surge could cause extensive flooding in vulnerable parts of Mobile, and its local statement specifically identified downtown Mobile as an area at risk. The agency said surge could push water along Dog River and into the Mobile River and its tributaries, with flooding in vulnerable areas reaching 4 to 7 feet above normally dry ground. The greatest concern is Friday into Saturday morning.

Mike Evans, director of the Mobile County Emergency Management Agency, said earlier in the week that storm surge in Mobile Bay could reach 5 to 7 feet. He also warned that the ground is “already saturated” after recent storms, raising the risk of flooding from heavy rain.

Cheriogotis asked residents who live east of Interstate 65 and south of Interstate 10 to have an evacuation or shelter plan in place. Residents in flood-prone neighborhoods should review their evacuation routes and be ready to leave if local officials issue evacuation orders.

In the mayor’s Wednesday night “Good Evening Mobile” newsletter, Cheriogotis listed the potential impacts as damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge, high surf, rip currents, flash flooding and tornadoes. He urged families to have plans in place not only for the storm itself but also for its aftermath.

How the city prepared

City crews spent the days before the storm staging barricades, preparing city buildings for possible flooding and clearing drainage channels. On Wednesday, stormwater crews removed sediment and vegetation from Eslava Creek south of U.S. Highway 90.

“We pay special attention to things like this, especially ahead of a storm, because we’re trying to think about the capacity of the system, trying to make sure that we can remove the water from the streets as quickly as possible,” said Matt Anderson, the city’s director of public services.

Mobile created a dedicated Stormwater Department in its fiscal 2026 budget, which took effect Oct. 1, 2025. Anderson said crews have since cleared vegetation and sediment from about 36 miles of ditches, done extensive work on Halls Mill Creek and improved drainage in midtown.

“Some of our streets are always going to flood because of the way they were built, location, topography, and so on, but how quickly do they drain? That’s the real question,” Anderson said.

Anderson said crews also prepared about 600 sandbags for city facilities, anticipating wind-driven rain. “Any building that has a large facade facing south is going to get water intrusion if they don’t get some sandbags,” he said.

For residents in flood-prone areas, the city began offering sand and sandbags at 9 a.m. Thursday, while supplies lasted, at two locations:

• Mobile Police Department Precinct 1, 2601 Dauphin Island Parkway, Suite D
• James Seals Community Center, 540 Texas St.

Mobile Animal Services also put out a call for emergency foster homes, asking residents to temporarily house shelter animals during the storm. The city said it would provide needed supplies to foster families.

Safety reminders during and after the storm

Officials stressed that once Isaias arrives, residents should stay off the roads so police and fire crews can respond to emergencies. Evans had earlier advised residents to be off the roads by midday Friday.

“It’s time to prepare like we’re going to get the worst case scenario for our community,” Evans said Wednesday at the county EMA’s command post on Zeigler Road. “Get your business in order. Get your home in order. Take care of your loved ones. Get the things you need. If it doesn’t happen to be as bad as we thought — hey, that’s always a good thing.”

City and county officials offered these reminders:

• Turn around, don’t drown. Never drive through flooded streets. Water depth and current can be deceptive, and roads can wash out beneath the surface.
• Run generators outdoors only. Keep portable generators outside and away from windows, doors and vents to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Keep hydrants clear. After the storm, do not pile debris on or around fire hydrants.
• Stock up. Evans recommended having at least 72 hours’ worth of food, along with water, medications, flashlights and extra batteries.
• Know your zone. Determine whether you live in an evacuation zone and decide in advance where you will go.
• Stay informed. Follow updates from the National Weather Service in Mobile, the National Hurricane Center, Mobile County EMA and the City of Mobile.

Evans has also cautioned residents against relying on social media for storm information, noting that posts can surface hours after they were written, and against comparing Isaias to past storms when deciding whether to evacuate or shelter in place.

Portable generators are a leading cause of carbon monoxide poisoning after hurricanes, according to federal safety agencies, and the danger can build quickly in a closed garage or a room with a nearby open window. Downed power lines should always be treated as live; residents should stay away and report them to the utility.

What happens next

Forecasters have said Isaias is expected to reach the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday, with conditions deteriorating through the day Friday. The city’s civil emergency proclamation is set to expire at 8 a.m. Saturday, but city officials have said its timing could change depending on the storm.

Once the storm passes, residents should expect crews to begin assessing damage, clearing roads and restoring services, and should continue to use caution around flooded areas, fallen trees and downed lines. Officials will announce when city offices reopen and when normal services resume.

Residents can follow the City of Mobile at cityofmobile.org and Mobile County Emergency Management at mcema.net for official updates, and the National Weather Service Mobile office at weather.gov/mob for the latest watches, warnings and local forecasts.