Ready, Not Rattled: A Gulf Coast Hurricane Preparedness Guide for Baldwin County

Hurricane Season on the Gulf Coast: A Calm, Practical Guide for Baldwin County

Hurricane season starts June 1.

If you've lived on the Gulf Coast for any length of time, you already know the rhythm — the weather forecasters shift into watchful mode, the shelves at Home Depot start thinning out in late May, and somebody in your neighborhood Facebook group is already asking about generator recommendations.

Knowing the drill and actually being ready are two different things.

I've lived in Baldwin County long enough to know that the people who move through storm season calmly are the ones who did the boring work in May — the checklist, the phone numbers on the fridge, the car topped off before the line at the pump stretches around the block. The people who panic are the ones who waited.

This guide is the boring work, done for you. It's the same reference I use for my own family, my own pets, my own house. No fear, no hype — just the information you'd want if your neighbor happened to have it all in one place.

If you're one of the Elberta neighbors who got a magnet in the mail this spring, this is the deep version of what's on your fridge. The magnet has the phone numbers and the quick checklist. This has everything else — and a companion PDF you can download, print, and keep wherever you're most likely to find it when you need it. If you want to be sent a copy of my 5x7" fridge magnet with the highlights so you don't have to search for it when you need it most, message me and ask. I'm happy to share!

[Download the Free Gulf Coast Hurricane Preparedness Guide — no email required]

Know Your Zone

Baldwin County uses an evacuation zone system that's based on the strength of the storm, not just where you live. That matters — your zone can change depending on whether a storm is a Category 1 or a Category 5.

Here's the short version:

Zone 1 (Category 1–2 storms): All of Pleasure Island, all manufactured homes countywide, RVs, and any low-lying flood-prone areas. If you're south of the Intracoastal Waterway, you're in Zone 1.

Zone 2 (Category 3): Everything south of I-10, plus Eastern Shore areas south of I-10 and west of US-98.

Zone 3 (Category 4): Everything south of US Highway 98.

Zone 4 (Category 5): Everything south of US Highway 90.

A few things to know: manufactured homes, RVs, and flood-prone areas are in Zone 1 regardless of where they sit in the county. And your zone isn't something to guess about — go to alertbaldwin.com and check your exact address. It takes about thirty seconds, and it's the most useful thirty seconds you'll spend this spring.

While you're on that site, sign up for text and email emergency alerts through Alert Baldwin. This is how the county reaches you directly when something's happening — evacuation orders, road closures, boil-water notices. It's free.

The Baldwin County EMA also has a free app (iPhone and Android) with weather, road conditions, evacuation zones, and push alerts. Download it now, not in June.

Evacuation Routes

The PDF guide that accompanies this post includes a full map of Baldwin County evacuation zones and routes. Download it, keep it on your phone, and print a copy for your go-bag. A map will always serve you better than a list of highways when you're actually navigating under pressure.

[Download the Free Gulf Coast Hurricane Preparedness Guide — no email required]

One thing worth flagging that isn't obvious from any map: once a Hurricane Warning is issued for Escambia County, Florida, every route from Alabama into Florida closes — except I-10.

If your evacuation plan assumes you're heading east through Pensacola or Gulf Breeze, you need a backup plan the moment a Warning is issued. I-10 is your option.

A good habit: drive your evacuation path once this spring. Not because you have to, but because knowing where you'd go and how long it takes when there's no traffic makes a real difference when there is.

Before You Leave: The Pre-Evacuation Checklist

If an evacuation is ordered, here's what to do before you close the front door:

1. Turn off water at the main valve.
2. Turn off gas if you know how. If you don't know how, leave it — don't guess.
3. Unplug appliances and electronics. Power surges after outages destroy more devices than the storm itself.
4. Move valuables to your highest floor. Anything that can't be replaced goes up.
5. Take photos or video of every room. Every. Room. This is for insurance, and it matters more than anything else on this list. Open closets, open cabinets, pan across bookshelves.
6. Secure outdoor furniture, trash cans, grills, planters, garden flags — anything that becomes a projectile in 90 mph winds.
7. Fill bathtubs with water for flushing toilets if water service goes out.
8. Fill all vehicles with gas before the rush starts. The lines get long fast.
9. Charge all devices fully. Portable chargers too.
10. Have cash on hand, in small bills. ATMs and card readers go down when power does.
11. Grab your go-bag. Documents, medications, pet records, chargers, clothes for five-plus days.
12. Move vehicles to higher ground if your area floods.
13. Let someone outside the area know your plan and your route.

That's thirteen things, and if you practice once, you can do them all in under an hour. The first time you do it under pressure, it'll feel like three.

The Supply Kit

There are two versions of this — the go-bag if you're evacuating, and the shelter-in-place kit if you're staying put (in a zone that allows it, with an official order that doesn't require you to leave).

Go-Bag Essentials

• Water: one gallon per person per day, three days minimum
• Non-perishable food and a manual can opener
• Medications: two-week supply
• Document copies in a waterproof container — insurance cards, IDs, birth certificates, deeds, medical records, vet records
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Portable phone charger
• Cash in small bills
• First aid kit
• Weather radio — battery or hand-crank
• Pet supplies: food, water, carrier, leash, vaccination records, medications, comfort items

Shelter-in-Place Additions

• Water: five-plus days
• Food: five-plus days
• Tarps and rope for emergency roof repair
• Battery or hand-crank weather radio
• Propane camp stove (never indoors — more on this below)
• Coolers and ice. Pro tip: fill freezer bags or water bottles with water and freeze them ahead of time. They double as ice and as drinking water once they melt.
• Entertainment for kids: books, cards, puzzles
• Printed contact list in case phones die
• Baby supplies if applicable
• Pet food: two weeks minimum

If you only do one thing from this list, make it the insurance photos. I say this as someone who's gone through storm claims — the difference between a smooth claim and a months-long fight is almost always documentation. Take the pictures this weekend. You'll never regret it, and you might never need it.

Generator Safety: The Part That Actually Matters

If you own a generator — or you're thinking about buying one this spring — please read this section carefully. Carbon monoxide from generators is one of the leading causes of post-storm fatalities on the Gulf Coast, and most of those deaths are preventable with a few basic precautions.

Here's what you need to know:

The one rule that matters most: generators run outside. At least 20 feet from any window, door, or vent, with the exhaust pointed away from the house. Never in the garage — even with the garage door open. Never on a covered porch. Never in a shed attached to the house.

Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and it builds up silently. It can reach fatal levels in minutes.

A battery-powered carbon monoxide detector in your bedroom is a twenty-dollar piece of equipment that's saved lives. If you plan to run a generator at any point during an outage, put one in.

A good maintenance habit: run your generator for 15 to 20 minutes every month or so. A generator that sits untouched from October to September is a generator that may not start when you need it. Check the oil while you're at it, and keep fresh, stabilized fuel on hand.

When the Power Goes Out

Power outages are the most common storm impact. Here's how to manage one without losing a fridge full of food or your patience:

• Your refrigerator stays cold for about 4 hours if you don't open it.
• A full freezer holds temperature for about 48 hours. Half full, about 24. The key phrase is if you don't open it. Every time you peek, the clock resets downward.
• When in doubt, throw it out. Food that's sat between 40°F and 140°F for more than two hours is a risk. Meat, dairy, and leftovers are the biggest concerns.

Report your outage so crews know where to go:

Baldwin EMC: (251) 989-6247, or text "Outage" to 85700. Backup line if phones are overloaded: (251) 989-6795.

Riviera Utilities: (251) 943-4999, or text "OUT" to the same number.

After the Storm

The storm itself is only part of the event. The 72 hours afterward are where a lot of injuries happen.

• Stay away from downed power lines. Assume every line is live. Don't drive over them, don't step over them, don't touch anything they're touching.
• Do not drive through standing water. Six inches of moving water knocks a person down. Twelve inches carries a vehicle. Turn around, don't drown — it's a cliché because it's true.
• Document everything before cleanup. Photos, video, close-ups of damage. Before you move a single piece of debris.
• Contact your insurance immediately. Don't wait. Claims get processed in the order they come in.
• Watch for contractor scams. They spike after every hurricane — out-of-area companies that show up offering emergency roof tarps or tree removal. Get multiple quotes. Verify licenses. Never pay the full amount upfront. If someone's pressuring you to decide in the next ten minutes, walk away.
• Check on neighbors, especially elderly ones. A knock on the door means a lot.
• Report storm damage through the Baldwin County EMA website so the county has an accurate picture for recovery.
• Food safety: if your power was out for four-plus hours, go through your fridge and freezer carefully. Meat, dairy, leftovers — throw them out. Your insurance may cover spoiled food, but your stomach won't forgive a gamble.

The Numbers to Put on Your Fridge

If nothing else from this guide makes it into your house, save these:

• Baldwin County EMA: (251) 972-6807
• Alert Baldwin (emergency alerts): alertbaldwin.com
• Baldwin County EMA App: free on iPhone and Android
• Baldwin EMC (power outages): (251) 989-6247 | text "Outage" to 85700 | backup (251) 989-6795
• Riviera Utilities: (251) 943-4999 | text "OUT" | gas emergencies: same number
• Gulf Shores Storm Info: (251) 968-8433
• NOAA Weather Radio SAME code for Baldwin County: 013009
• National Hurricane Center: nhc.noaa.gov
• Ready Alabama: readyalabama.gov

(If you got the magnet, these are already on your fridge. If you didn't and you'd like one, reply to this post and I'll get one to you.)

Want to Go Deeper?

For a truly comprehensive reference, the county publishes the 2025 Alabama Gulf Coast Emergency Preparedness Guide, available at baldwincountyal.gov/departments/emergency-management-agency. It covers everything from special-needs registrations to shelter locations to long-term recovery resources.

[Download the Free Gulf Coast Hurricane Preparedness Guide — no email required]

A Note From Your Neighbor

I've lived through Gulf Coast hurricane seasons and I know what it feels like to watch a storm approach and wonder if you've done enough to prepare. I put this guide together so my neighbors have everything in one place before they need it. When you're ready for a REALTOR® who treats your home and your community like they matter, I'd love to be your person.

Katie Ragland | Real Broker, LLC

Associate Broker, Alabama | REALTOR®, Florida

256-366-6974

katieraglandrealtor@gmail.com

linktr.ee/katieraglandrealtor