Hurricane Sally

BY ALLISON MARLOW

After wobbling across the Gulf of Mexico at a pace slower than many people walk, Hurricane Sally shifted east, shifted west and shifted east again, finally setting her sights on landfall in Gulf Shores.

The storm slammed into Baldwin County’s seaside the same day as Hurricane Ivan 16 years ago. The two made landfall in nearly the same location and at the same time of day. Sally arrived at 4:45 a.m., Ivan at 2:50 a.m.

As a Category 3 storm Hurricane Ivan devastated not just the U.S. but caused massive damage in the Caribbean where it killed more than 60 people before turning toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. Hurricane Ivan arrived as a Category 3 storm on Sept. 16, 2004, packing 120 mph winds. It caused 57 deaths in the U.S. alone and $27 billion in damage.

At press time only one death has been attributed to Hurricane Sally after it finally rolled in as a Category 2 after weakening and strengthening several times in its long crawl to the coast.

Much of the initial damage of both storms is the same. Electrical lines snapped. Trees uprooted. Roads were turned to rivers. Residents in

towns across Baldwin County spent the night huddled together listening to terrifying, howling winds outside of their windows. They would have to wait until the first light of dawn

NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI, FL to know just how destructive those winds were.

All across the county power lines and trees fell, like this one on Clubhouse Drive in Gulf Shores.

Andrew Lackey

The chaotic scenes unfolded in that early morning light to reveal boats tossed aside like toys, roofs

blown away and entire houses gone. A 12-foot-long alligator frightened residents in one neighborhood as it sauntered by, probably just as confused as the humans who spotted it.

More than 510,000 people across Alabama and Florida were left without power. Most were told it would be a week, maybe more, before their lights would shine again.

A section of the newly renovated Gulf State Pier was lost during the storm as well as substantial damage to the parts that are still intact.

Gulf State Park

An entire street of power lines leans over the roadway on Highway 90 in Loxley.

Sara Herter

Local crews, as well as workers as far as Orlando, came together to help clear debris and restore utilities.

Riviera Utilities

The Hangout in Gulf Shores had damage to its outdoor stage and buildings.

@stephenq3340

A resident of Cambridge Parke in Foley kayaks through a flooded area.

Amanda Boles

Many streets experienced flooding with some areas getting as much as 20-30" of rain.

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