Baldwin County hurricane guide¶

The Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency (BCEMA), in Robertsdale, runs hurricane planning, evacuation zones, and county shelters. Pleasure Island (Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Fort Morgan, and Ono Island) is the first area told to leave. If you live in a manufactured home or a low lying, flood prone area, you are in every evacuation zone, so plan to leave whenever any evacuation is ordered.

What to know in Baldwin County¶

• The City of Gulf Shores issues re-entry passes to residents and property owners in Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan. After an evacuation, these passes identify who may enter restricted areas when it is safe. Passes are mailed every two years and are also available at Gulf Shores City Hall. The Gulf Shores page has the current details.

Emergency and information numbers¶

Official alerts and information¶

• Alert Baldwin: Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. Website.
• Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency: The county EMA page, with evacuation, shelter, and preparedness information. Website.
• 2026 Alabama Gulf Coast Emergency Preparedness Guide: The printable preparedness guide the county EMA recommends. Website.

Evacuation zones¶

Baldwin County has five evacuation zones, and orders follow the storm's category. Zone 1 (Category 1) is all of Pleasure Island south of the Intracoastal Canal, plus manufactured homes and low lying, flood prone areas countywide. Stronger storms add zones further inland, including people near the Fish, Styx, Blackwater, and Perdido Rivers. For a Category 5 storm, officials may tell everyone in the county to evacuate. See the county's evacuation routes and zone map.

Look up your evacuation zone

Evacuation centers¶

The county strongly recommends evacuation. It may open Shelters of Last Resort only as needed, not all at once, in buildings it cannot guarantee will hold up. Bring photo ID, and expect a registration and waiver form and a criminal background check. Medical needs and electrical support shelters are for people who need limited nursing care or power for life support; bring a caregiver, your medical supplies, and any special food. The locations below are a planning list and open only when announced, and the state may also open a community shelter at Coastal Alabama Community College in Bay Minette.

Official list of open evacuation centers

These are locations the county has used or designated as evacuation centers. They are listed for planning only.

Help to evacuate¶

• Baldwin Regional Area Transit System (BRATS): During a local state of emergency, BRATS gives home pickup to shelters for people with no transportation, with buses for wheelchair users. After a mandatory evacuation order for a Category 3, 4, or 5 hurricane, rides are free to Evacuation Pick-up Points at Baldwin County High School, Daphne High School, Fairhope High School, Foley High School, Loxley Municipal Park, and Robertsdale High School, where buses take residents to shelters outside the county. Call 251-937-0355 (North Baldwin), 251-990-4636 (Eastern Shore), or 251-972-6817 (Central and South Baldwin), and schedule in advance. Phone: 251-972-6817. Website.
• MedStar Emergency Medical Services: For people who are bed-bound, cannot walk, or have special medical conditions. Toll free: 1-866-298-8884. Schedule in advance. A fee is charged. Phone: 251-971-3775. Website.
• Baldwin County Pet-Friendly Emergency Shelter: A last resort shelter at the Baldwin County Coliseum in Robertsdale for evacuees and their dogs and cats only. You must stay at the shelter with your pets. Limit two pets per household, in crates, with your own supplies. Dogs need rabies, DAPP, and Bordetella shots; cats need rabies and FVRCP. If you have no ride, call BRATS at 251-972-6817 or 251-937-0355. Phone: 251-972-6817. Website.
• Baldwin County Animal Shelter: 15240 County Road 49, Summerdale. Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone: 251-972-6834. Website.

Radio, TV and weather¶

Keep a battery or hand crank radio. When power and cell service fail, radio is often the only way to hear official updates.

Radio stations¶

Emergency Alert System roles come from the Alabama state EAS plan, last revised in January 2021, and the Alabama Broadcasters Association's station assignments of January 2026.

NOAA Weather Radio¶

A weather radio turns itself on for warnings, even in the middle of the night. Set it to this frequency.

TV stations¶

Official forecasts¶

• National Weather Service Mobile/Pensacola: Local forecasts, watches, and warnings. Phone: 251-633-6443. Website.
• National Hurricane Center: Official hurricane forecasts, watches, and warnings. Website.

Power, water and debris¶

• Alabama Power: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 800-888-2726. Website.
• Baldwin EMC (Baldwin County Electric Membership Corporation): Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 251-989-6247. Website.
• Southern Pine Electric Cooperative: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 866-867-5415. Website.
• City of Fairhope Public Utilities Electric Department: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 251-928-8003. Website.
• City of Foley Riviera Utilities: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 251-943-4999. Website.
• City of Robertsdale Utilities: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 251-947-8950. Website.
• Solid Waste Authority of Baldwin County, storm debris: Once a storm is named or a watch or warning is issued, stop yard work and do not put debris at the curb. After the storm, household garbage pickup comes first. Then separate debris into piles: appliances and bulky items, vegetation, and construction debris. Do not mix them. Phone: 251-972-6878. Website.

After the storm: help for displaced residents¶

If your home is damaged or you cannot go back, these organizations help with shelter, food, money, and paperwork. Many programs open only after a disaster declaration, so check their pages for current status.

Where to start¶

• 211 Connects Alabama: The 211 helpline for all 67 Alabama counties, run by nine local 211 offices of the United Ways of Alabama. Free and confidential, with help in over 150 languages. During disasters it shares information on shelters and road closures. Dial 211 at any hour, or call 888-421-1266. You can also text your ZIP code to 898-211. Phone: 211. Website.

Housing and shelter¶

• FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers: After a federal declaration, these centers help you apply for aid in person. Use the locator to find the nearest one. Phone: 1-800-621-3362. Website.

Food¶

• Feeding the Gulf Coast: Regional food bank for southwest Alabama, south Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle. Find a pantry near you on its site. Main branch in Theodore, Alabama. Phone: 251-653-1617. Website.

Money, work and insurance¶

• DisasterAssistance.gov: Apply for FEMA aid after a federal declaration. Phone: 1-800-621-3362. Website.
• SBA disaster loans: Low interest loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses after a declared disaster. Phone: 800-659-2955. Website.

Legal help¶

• Legal Services Alabama: Free civil legal help for low-income residents of all 67 counties, including help after a disaster with FEMA claims, insurance claims, housing, contractor fraud, and replacing documents. Apply by phone or online. Disaster Relief Hotline, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For other legal problems, call 866-456-4995, or 888-835-3505 in Spanish. Phone: 877-393-2333. Website.

Emotional support¶

• AltaPointe Behavioral Health Crisis Center: One of Alabama's six state-funded crisis centers, for a mental health, substance use, or suicidal crisis. Crisis center in Mobile. You can walk in for help. For a crisis at any hour, you can also call or text 988. Phone: 251-662-8000. Website.
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text, any time. Phone: 988.

Relief organizations¶

• American Red Cross South Alabama Chapter: The Red Cross chapter for 16 Alabama counties, part of the Red Cross Alabama and Mississippi Region. Shelter, emergency help, and disaster relief. Mobile office. Dothan office (Houston, Dale, and Henry counties): 334-792-9852. For disaster help at any hour, call 1-800-733-2767. Phone: 251-544-6100. Website.

Cities and towns¶

Each city has its own services and some have their own alerts. The county's evacuation zones, evacuation centers, and emergency alerts cover everyone, in every city and in unincorporated areas.

Related guides¶

• Should I evacuate?
• What to expect at a hurricane shelter
• Hurricane supply list
• After a hurricane: the first 24 hours
• Insurance claims and disaster aid

Sources¶

Checked on October 2, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.

• https://baldwincountyal.gov/services/ema/fort-morgan-re-entry-passes
• https://baldwincountyal.gov/services/ema/contact-us
• https://baldwincountyal.gov/services/ema
• https://sheriff.baldwincountyal.gov/contact-us/general-inquiries-comments
• https://baldwincountyal.gov/services/ema/shelters/transportation-to-shelters
• https://baldwincountyal.gov/services/animal-control/contact-us
• https://baldwincountyswda.org/contact-us/
• https://baldwincountyal.gov/services/ema/alert-baldwin
• https://baldwincountyal.gov/services/ema/evacuation-information/evacuation-zones
• https://baldwincountyal.gov/services/ema/shelters/all-shelters
• https://baldwincountyal.gov/services/ema/shelters/pet-shelter
• https://baldwincountyswda.org/disaster-recovery/
• https://www.weather.gov/source/nwr/JS/CCL.js
• https://api.weather.gov/zones/county/ALC003
• https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
• https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WABD
• https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WHIL
• https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WNSP
• https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WKRG-TV
• https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WALA-TV
• https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WEAR-TV
• https://mynbc15.com/news/local/nbc-15-switches-signals-rescan-to-stay-tuned
• https://www.telemundomobile.com/
• https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WSRE
• https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WEIQ
• https://www.alabamapower.com/residential/residential-faqs.html
• https://www.baldwinemc.com/outages-safety/outage-center/
• https://www.southernpine.org/
• https://www.fairhopeal.gov/departments/public-utilities/electric
• https://www.rivierautilities.com/outage-center/
• https://robertsdale.org/utilities-information
• https://egateway.fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocator
• https://www.disasterassistance.gov/
• https://www.sba.gov/disaster/
• https://mh.alabama.gov/crisis-centers/
• https://www.211connectsalabama.org/frequently-asked-questions/
• https://www.feedingthegulfcoast.org/learn-more/about-us
• https://legalservicesalabama.org/disaster-relief/
• https://www.redcross.org/local/al-ms/about-us/locations/south-alabama.html