Emergency Shelters Open Due To Bad Weather

By Steve Alexander Reporter

Three shelters open at 8 pm Monday night in Baldwin County Emergency Shelters Open Due To Bad Weather

Published: Mon, March 03, 2008 - 11:47 pm

Steve Alexander

Officials with the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency are opening three shelters at 8:00 pm Monday in anticipation of bad weather.
The three shelters are the Foley Satellite Courthouse at 201 East Section Street in Foley, the Fairhope Satellite Courthouse at 1100 Fairhope Avenue in Fairhope, and the Baldwin County Level Two Community Shelter at 207 North White Avenue in Bay Minette.
Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency Director Leigh Anne Ryals says, "Originally we were in what they considered a slight chance for a tornado outbreak. Earlier today, it was moved up to a moderate chance.. We know that we have a significant snow bird population in our area right now as well as mobile home residents. Also, looking at some of the past events that we've had in our state with tornado outbreaks, we know people are a little on edge."
Ryals says say the three shelters can withstand winds of 200 miles per hour.
High winds also forced changes for some Mobile County students who were supposed to the ride the school bus home Monday afternoon.
Wind gusts on the Dauphin Island Bridge forced about 35 students who ride the school bus for Alba Middle School and Bryant High School to be dropped off at the Alabama Port Fire Station instead of on Dauphin Island.
Parents, like Stephanie Ladnier, were notified to pick up their children there.
Ladnier said, "I don't think today is quite as windy as some of the other days so I don't know how they actually pick the windiest day, but I understand why they do it."
But for some students, the windy weather was an inconvenience.
Samantha Havard said, "I'm going to have to stay at the corner store for like two hours, until my mom can come pick me up, whenever she gets off of work at five."
Stay tuned to WKRG News Five and log on to wkrg.com for updated information

Click here for Baldwin County shelter information.