BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Hurricane Sally walloped the Alabama Gulf Coast, toppling massive ancient trees, tossing huge boats across roadways, putting communities underwater and even sending a giant alligator into a neighborhood.
While Tropical Storm Sally is now soaking other parts of Alabama, the storm has left lingering problems to be dealt with in Mobile and Baldwin counties.
As of 9 p.m., Alabama Power reported statewide outages of 160,600 with the vast majority (134,000) in the Mobile area. Sustained winds continue to be one of the challenges, particularly in the Mobile area, as crews work to restore power. The company is still in the process of assessing damage to infrastructure even while making progress in restoring service.
The winds, rains and storm surge caused widespread flooding and massive property damage.
As #HurricaneSally leaves behind destruction across South Alabama, DO NOT SELF DEPLOY! If you wish to volunteer or donate please visit https://t.co/1ZvXM0BYxB for more information! #ReadyAL #Response #volunteer pic.twitter.com/dQ0AoXqIxv
— Ready Alabama (@ReadyAlabama) September 16, 2020
Emergency responders report a high number of people out on the roads in Baldwin County.
Roads MUST be clear for rescue crews and power co. crews to do their job.
DO NOT leave your place of shelter.
DO NOT try to return to the area tonight.
Do your part, stay off the roads. pic.twitter.com/LMmhRSNdq6— Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency (@BaldwinEMA) September 16, 2020
Tree down in Spanish Fort. Crushed both cars @spann pic.twitter.com/FNsXD1Kzum
— Ashton Roszkowski (@ashkowski91) September 16, 2020
MAJOR TO CATASTROPHIC FLOODING IS OCCURRING IN BALDWIN COUNTY AND IMPACTING MANY AREAS AND ROADS. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. PLEASE DO NOT TRAVEL ON AREA ROADWAYS UNLESS YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY. LEAVE THE ROADS CLEAR FOR EMERGENCY PERSONNEL. pic.twitter.com/zLYU0JQBc7
— Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency (@BaldwinEMA) September 16, 2020
Gulf Shores Parkway (Hwy 59) is impassable south of 12th Avenue due to flooding from Little Lagoon @abc3340 @spann @mynbc15 #alwx pic.twitter.com/dd7VQmnOML
— Stephen Quinn (@StephenQ3340) September 16, 2020
@spann have seen folks asking about Fort Morgan where storm made landfall. Got these images. pic.twitter.com/BXIiNrpc8I
— Jake Reuse (@ReuseRecruiting) September 16, 2020
Exterior damage to @thehangoutGS suffered from #HurricaneSally @abc3340 @spann @mynbc15 #alwx pic.twitter.com/JtoegDS06K
— Stephen Quinn (@StephenQ3340) September 16, 2020
Boats everywhere… hopefully ours is sitting inside and not on the road. pic.twitter.com/mdG4adzoCP
— Abigayle (@abbygrimmmes) September 16, 2020
Another reason to SHELTER IN PLACE until flood waters recede. Not only are there downed power lines, but there’s also displaced wildlife. This 10-12 ALLIGATOR was just outside of a house in Gulf Shores on Plash Island earlier this morning.
Video from Tina Bennett @NWSMobile pic.twitter.com/aK5O2inOqX
— Thomas Geboy (@ThomasGeboyWX) September 16, 2020
Dauphin Island Sea Lab was also damaged.
Sally is now soaking other parts of Alabama, causing flash flooding.
Atmore,Al @spann @NWSMobile @rzweather @StormHour @ThomasGeboyWX @michaelwhitewx @WEARKDaniel @AlanSealls @JimCantore @WKRGEd #alwx #hurricanesally pic.twitter.com/QQHN2seJTY
— Ditto Gorme (@dittogorme) September 16, 2020
The flash flooding today caused by #Sally led to one of the most rapid water rises ever observed for both Murder Creek & Burnt Corn Creek near Brewton and East Brewton in Escambia County, Alabama. Full aerial photo album: https://t.co/gBYMaBsouy@NWSMobile @StormHour @spann pic.twitter.com/C1f3raG8zC
— Spinks Megginson (@rzweather) September 16, 2020
https://www.facebook.com/cityofdothan/posts/10158259867125033
Gov. Kay Ivey and local officials are urging the public to remain off roads and out of areas affected by the storm. Ivey has called a news conference for 10 a.m. Thursday. Some cities have implemented curfews.
As #HurricaneSally continues to impact our state and slowly makes its way across inland AL, it is imperative that we all heed warnings from our trusted weather experts and local leaders. My team and I are closely monitoring the situation – full statement below. #alpolitics #alwx pic.twitter.com/5muDw1rCAB
— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) September 16, 2020
https://www.facebook.com/orangebeach/videos/374772036860366/
https://www.facebook.com/BaldwinCountyEMA/photos/a.668234579897303/3304262166294518/
https://www.facebook.com/MobileCountyAL/videos/2714971152093528/
This story via AlabamaNews Center
