The west end of Dauphin Island is already seeing low-level flooding well ahead of Hurricane Michael, driven by strong westerly winds and higher-than-normal tides.
The island’s west end typically bears the brunt of tropical systems that approach the northern Gulf Coast. Mayor Jeff Collier said that if Michael tracks further east, the island may avoid some of the flooding that has plagued residents and vacationers there.
Earlier this year, Tropical Storm Gordon brought flooding to the area. Last year, another tropical system piled sand high onto roads, including the main thoroughfare, Bienville Boulevard, leading to months of cleanup.
Collier said the town also hopes to avoid having to shut down water and sewer service on that end of the island because of the storm. Local realty company ACP was checking on vacation renters to make sure they knew how to stay safe and had parked vehicles on higher ground.