New to the Gulf Coast?
A simple storm plan.

Start here.

For life along the coast—from Fairhope and the Eastern Shore to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Whether you’re new here or have called the beach home for years, a simple plan helps.

1. 01

   Know your evacuation zone

   Find out whether your home is in an evacuation or storm-surge area before you need to make a decision. Use official Baldwin County resources rather than social-media maps. Follow an evacuation order when officials issue one for your area.

   Find your evacuation zone ↗
2. 02

   Know where you would go

   Choose a place ahead of time: family or friends, a hotel farther inland, or an official shelter if one is opened. Confirm that your destination can accommodate pets and any medical needs.

   Never assume a shelter is open. Baldwin County opens shelters as conditions require, on an as-needed basis; not all locations open at the same time. Always confirm availability and requirements through official EMA information before leaving for a shelter.

   Check official shelter information ↗
3. 03

   Know your route

   For Gulf Shores and Orange Beach residents, Baldwin County lists Highway 59, Foley Beach Express and Baldwin Beach Express as designated evacuation routes. For Eastern Shore residents, State Highway 181 and Highway 98 North are among the designated routes. Review the county’s evacuation information for your location, and have your destination ready.

   Always follow current instructions from local officials: road conditions, closures and traffic plans can change. Never drive through a flooded road.

   View official evacuation routes ↗
4. 04

   Prepare your household

   Baldwin County recommends preparing to be self-sufficient for approximately five days. Build supplies around your household’s needs, including children, pets and anyone who needs medical support.

   • Drinking water
   • Shelf-stable, easy meals
   • Prescription medications
   • Flashlights and batteries
   • Portable chargers / power banks
   • Basic first aid
   • Hygiene and sanitation supplies
   • Clothing, bedding and sturdy shoes
   • Basic tools and a manual can opener
   • Baby supplies and activities for children
   • Pet food, medication, carriers / leashes and records
   • Get some cash to keep on hand
5. 05

   Protect the house

   • Secure or bring inside outdoor furniture, trash cans, planters and anything that could blow or float away.
   • Arrange tree and shrub trimming well before a storm; remove loose branches and have debris collected before winds arrive.
   • Install appropriate storm shutters or window protection before conditions become unsafe, and secure exterior doors and windows.
   • Clear gutters and drainage areas while conditions are safe.
   • Plan for backup power: charge power banks, check any generator and review its operating instructions before an outage. Make a separate backup plan for essential medical devices.
   • Charge devices and power banks.
   • Take photos and video of the exterior and every room, including closets, cabinets and storage areas. Record model and serial numbers for appliances, electronics and other valuable belongings; keep receipts where available.
   • Know how to shut off utilities if necessary; ask your utility provider for safe procedures.
   • Check your vehicle’s condition and fill the gas tank before you need to leave.

   Use portable generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents, with exhaust directed away from buildings. Never run one in a home, garage, porch or other enclosed or partly enclosed space. Use a battery-powered or battery-backup carbon monoxide alarm. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, let the generator cool before refueling, and never plug it into a wall outlet. Read CDC generator safety guidance ↗

6. 06

   Review insurance and protect important information

   Review your coverage with your insurance agent before storm season. Ask about wind and named-storm deductibles, flood coverage, personal belongings and any second-home or rental use. Confirm when coverage takes effect; do not assume a last-minute change will cover an approaching storm.

   Save your agent’s and insurance carrier’s phone numbers, claims website and policy numbers in your phone and on paper. Back up your home inventory and documents securely, and keep an offline copy you can reach if service is interrupted.

   Keep accessible copies together, ready to take with you. Use secure digital backups where appropriate, and download essential information so you can access it without an internet connection.

   • Identification
   • Insurance policies, policy numbers and claims contacts
   • Home inventory photos, videos, model and serial numbers
   • Property information
   • Medication lists
   • Emergency contacts
   • Pet records
   • Important financial and contact information
7. 07

   Stay informed and have a communication plan

   Sign up for Alert Baldwin emergency notifications ↗. Check local weather updates alongside official EMA, National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center information. Keep alerts enabled and follow current evacuation instructions.

   Write down the plan and share it with everyone in your household. Agree on:

   • Who is responsible for children and pets
   • Where everyone will meet
   • Where you will evacuate
   • Which out-of-area person will serve as your family contact
   • How you will communicate if cellular service is disrupted

   Keep contact numbers on paper. If calls are congested, try brief texts or email when service is available, and have a backup way to receive official information, such as a battery-powered NOAA weather radio.

Know your boat’s storm plan
well before you need it.

A hurricane haul-out plan belongs on your preparation list before storm season—not when a storm is already heading toward the coast. Space is limited, waiting lists can be long, and a last-minute call may leave you without a place to go.

For larger yachts and working vessels, the stakes can include multimillion-dollar investments, crew safety and business operations. Without an advance arrangement, owners may face difficult relocation decisions as weather approaches. Moving a boat to another port takes time, fuel, a capable crew and a confirmed destination; trying to outrun a storm is not a dependable backup plan.

Arrange the details early.

• Choose a primary plan and a backup. Discuss haul-out, suitable land storage or early relocation with your boatyard, marina and captain. For trailerable boats, arrange a suitable inland storage location and check the tow vehicle and trailer.
• Ask about enrollment and waiting lists. Find out when hurricane-plan registration opens, whether existing customers have priority, and what deposits, agreements and insurance documents are required. Confirm what a reservation actually provides; joining a list does not necessarily secure a haul-out.
• Confirm your vessel fits. Provide length, beam, draft, displacement and any special lifting requirements. Ask about lift capacity, blocking or cradles, tie-down arrangements and the storage site’s flood exposure.
• Know when to activate the plan. Get the notification process, arrival deadline and weather cutoff in writing. Confirm who delivers the boat, who may authorize work, and who can act if you are out of town.
• Plan any relocation well in advance. Confirm the destination, route, fuel, crew and enough time to move before conditions deteriorate. Follow current weather guidance, port restrictions and evacuation instructions. Protecting a vessel must not delay people getting to safety.
• Review your marine policy with your insurer. Ask about required storm precautions, navigation limits, deductibles and any haul-out or relocation reimbursement. Save the policy and claims contacts with dated photos, vessel records and your signed yard agreement.
• Reconfirm each season. Capacity, prices, procedures and availability can change. Keep the yard, marina and captain’s contact information available offline.

Local places to contact before storm season.

Start with these facilities and ask directly about current hurricane arrangements, waiting lists, vessel limits and availability.

Fairhope / Eastern Shore: Ask your local marina or boatyard about a vessel-specific storm plan. If you have been referred to “Fairhope Boat Works,” confirm the exact business name and its current haul-out services directly before relying on it; a hurricane program under that name has not been verified for this guide.

Facility information checked October 10, 2026. These are planning contacts, not confirmed reservations. Contact each facility for current terms and availability.

Where to get
real information.

Bookmark official sources for coastal Alabama storm preparation and return to them when you need current guidance.

During an active storm, forecasts and local instructions can change quickly. Always follow the latest information from emergency-management officials and the National Weather Service.