Emergency officials in Alabama moved swiftly to strengthen storm preparations on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. The Baldwin County Commission officially issued a local state of emergency for Tropical Storm Isaias. The declaration took effect immediately to ensure the rapid activation of emergency personnel, resources, and support functions ahead of the system’s expected impact on the northern Gulf Coast.
The Baldwin County Commission approved the emergency measure during an afternoon emergency session on Wednesday. This was quickly followed by a joint press conference detailing county preparations. According to local forecasts, Tropical Storm Isaias formed in the Gulf of Mexico. It is projected to make landfall along the northern Gulf Coast as a hurricane by Friday, bringing dangerous storm surges, heavy rainfall, and destructive winds.
Local Closures, Shelters, and Voluntary Evacuations
In response to the approaching threat, Baldwin County officials announced that all county offices and public schools will be closed on Friday. No mandatory evacuation order has been issued. However, a voluntary evacuation is strongly encouraged for residents living in coastal, low-lying, and flood-prone communities, such as the Fort Morgan Peninsula west of Gulf Shores.
Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Tom Tyler urged residents to utilize the remaining window before conditions deteriorate.
“Now’s the time the public needs to prepare. You’ve got about 48 hours, little less than that now, before probably seeing tropical storm force winds,” Tyler said during Wednesday’s briefing. “Do what’s necessary to get your home ready, prepare your family, have a plan.”
To assist displaced residents, the Robertsdale Coliseum, located at 19477 Fairground Rd., opened as an emergency shelter on Thursday afternoon. The facility is fully pet-friendly. Additionally, the Baldwin Regional Area Transit System (BRATS) provided public transportation to shelters for residents needing assistance while weather conditions remained safe. A secondary community support site was scheduled to open Friday morning at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Foley.
Challenges Posed by New Residents and Rapid Growth
During the emergency briefings, local leaders emphasized that the region’s demographics have shifted significantly since the area last faced a major storm. Baldwin County Commissioner Jeb Ball noted that the county has experienced explosive growth since Hurricane Sally struck the Gulf Coast in 2020.
“The No. 1 thing is since Hurricane Sally, which we consider our last major storm, is there are an estimated 44,000 new people living in Baldwin County who have not been through a hurricane before,” Ball said. He encouraged all newcomers and long-term residents to download trusted weather applications and closely monitor official updates rather than relying on past storm experiences.
Sheriff Anthony Lowery warned that emergency responders will face operational limitations once peak winds and severe flooding arrive.
“We do have the ability to handle this, and we’re prepared for it, but we will reach a window where we cannot respond to calls,” Sheriff Lowery cautioned. “Once the winds pick up too much or those roads become flooded, we will not be able to respond to some of these calls for emergency.”
Statewide Actions and Regional Warnings
Governor Kay Ivey responded to the escalating threat by issuing a state of emergency covering 40 counties across south and central Alabama, including Baldwin and Mobile counties. The state-level declaration activates the Alabama National Guard if needed, enforces the state’s price-gouging laws, and waives specific federal motor-carrier regulations to ease supply chain and utility restoration efforts.
Neighboring Mobile County EMA Director Mike Evans echoed concerns about storm surge, noting that forecasts from the National Weather Service predicted surges ranging from five to seven feet in vulnerable coastal sectors. Officials across both counties stressed that residents should stock at least 72 hours of essential supplies, secure outdoor property, and complete all preparations before conditions deteriorate.
