MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday issued the following message to Alabamians ahead of Hurricane Delta, which is predicted to impact the state later this week.
“As our coastal areas are still recovering from Hurricane Sally, another system, Hurricane Delta, is making its way toward the Gulf Coast and could potentially have a significant impact on Alabama.
“Earlier today, I signed a State of Emergency to begin Alabama’s preparation process and position us to be able to declare a pre-landfall disaster declaration with FEMA. Additionally, I am issuing a mandatory evacuation for all tourists and visitors who are currently visiting or planning to visit our coastal communities of Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Dauphin Island and the unincorporated area of Fort Morgan.
“Under normal circumstances, we welcome our out-of-state tourists and visitors and look forward to welcoming you back when weather conditions are safe.
“Alabama continues to recover from the effects of Hurricane Sally, and all workers who are cleaning up roadways and putting our condos and homes back together should remain working as long as possible. We want to stay focused on our current cleanup and recovery from Sally for as long as possible, even as we make preparations for Hurricane Delta.
“While we are not currently in the projected direct path of Delta, this storm is already proving to be a much stronger storm than Sally. Unfortunately, a large portion of Alabama remains in the “cone of uncertainty” as described by our weather friends and regardless of where it makes landfall, the storm will likely bring strong winds and heavy rains to inland areas, as well as to low-lying areas along the coast.
“As residents along the Gulf Coast know all too well, these storms are unpredictable, and I strongly encourage everyone to take Hurricane Delta seriously. Please be sure to get your boats out of the water if at all possible and secure any vulnerable personal property. Also, it’s not too late to get your Hurricane preparedness kits in place should you lose power; it is always better to be over-prepared than sorry.
“We are keeping a close eye on this approaching storm, and we will continue providing all necessary updates. Please remain weather-aware, remain vigilant, and may God bless our state – and our neighbors – as we all prepare for Hurricane Delta.”
