Alabama Governor Declares Emergency and Orders Coastal Evacuations as Hurricane Approaches
Governor Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency for 40 Alabama counties as a hurricane heads toward the state. She ordered state offices closed in several counties starting Friday at noon and told visitors in Baldwin County south of the Gulf ICW and Dauphin Island to leave. Ivey warned residents to prepare for strong winds, heavy rain, and possible tornadoes.
Ivey's emergency declaration covers 40 counties. She also directed state offices and buildings in Baldwin, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, and Mobile counties to shut at noon Friday. The storm is expected to reach Alabama as soon as Friday.
At local officials' request, tourists and visitors must leave Baldwin County areas south of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and Dauphin Island in Mobile County, including Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Ivey cautioned that strong winds, heavy rain, and possible tornadoes could affect parts of the state. The order came shortly after Alabama schools were told to use "Gulf of America."
Count words. First para: Ivey's(1) emergency2 declaration3 covers4 40(5) counties6. She7 also8 directed9 state10 offices11 and12 buildings13 in14 Baldwin15, Coffee16, Covington17, Dale18, Escambia19, Geneva20, Henry21, Houston22, and23 Mobile24 counties25 to26 shut27 at28 noon29 Friday30. The31 storm32 is33 expected34 to35 reach36 Alabama37 as38 soon39 as40 Friday41. Good 41. Second: At1 local2 officials'3 request4, tourists5 and6 visitors7 must8 leave9 Baldwin10 County11 areas12 south13 of14 the15 Gulf16 Intracoastal17 Waterway18 and19 Dauphin20 Island21 in22 Mobile23 County24, including25 Gulf26 Shores27 and28 Orange29 Beach30. Ivey31 cautioned32 that33 strong34 winds35, heavy36 rain37, and38 possible39 tornadoes40 could41 affect42 parts43 of44 the45 state46. The47 order48 came49 shortly50 after51 Alabama52 schools53 were54 told55 to
Residents, visitors, and workers in the affected counties may face disrupted travel, closed state offices, and evacuation requirements. Coastal tourism communities such as Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Dauphin Island could see economic strain as visitors leave before the storm. Emergency preparations may also affect schools, local services, and families making weekend plans. Because forecasts can change, the storm's ultimate social and economic effects remain uncertain. Count: Residents1, visitors2, and3 workers4 in5 the6 affected7 counties8 may9 face10 disrupted11 travel12, closed13 state14 offices15, and16 evacuation17 requirements18. Coastal19 tourism20 communities21 such22 as23 Gulf24 Shores25, Orange26 Beach27, and28 Dauphin29 Island30 could31 see32 economic33 strain34 as35 visitors36 leave37 before38 the39 storm40. Emergency41 preparations42 may43 also44 affect45 schools46, local47 services48, and49 families50 making51 weekend52 plans53. Because54 forecasts55 can56 change57, th