City of Orange Beach Hurricane Sally Recovery Update
City of Orange Beach • September 20, 2020
Hurricane Sally Recovery Update – Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020
Mayor Tony Kennon updated Orange Beach residents on Facebook Live at noon today on the latest Hurricane Sally recovery efforts. See the video at https://www.facebook.com/orangebeach/videos/325507002058289. Mayor Tony Kennon will speaking again on Facebook Live at 6 p.m.
UPDATE FOR FOOD AND COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION STARTING SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
- ALL Commodity distribution will take place at the Island Church Campus (25550 Canal Road), 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Hours may be different on Monday.)
- ALL meals for the public will be served at the SPORTSPLEX (William Silvers Parkway). Breakfast: 7 a.m.; Lunch: 12 p.m.; Dinner: 4 p.m.
- Meals for City of Orange Beach Employees and First Responders ONLY and the Community Center, Breakfast: 7-10 a.m.; Lunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Dinner, 4-7 p.m.
- Recreation Center is open 24 hours a day for displaced families overnight and for anyone needing a shower, other comfort needs or transportation.
Call 251-981-7836 for any displaced families or individuals needing assistance.
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED:
There are three opportunities to volunteer between Sunday and Friday - Food Preparation at The Wharf with Operation BBQ (ages 18+ only), Food Distribution at the Orange Beach Sportsplex with Salvation Army (ages 10+), and Relief Supplies Distribution at Island Church with City of Orange Beach/Island Church (ages 10+). Please complete this Hurricane Sally Volunteer Sign-up Google Form for any shifts you can volunteer your time. If you have more than one person in your household willing to volunteer, fill out this form for each person.
FEMA:
Federal disaster financial assistance has not been approved yet for areas affected by Hurricane Sally. Once that happens, the FEMA recovery process for individuals will begin. For more information, visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/3545.
ELECTRICITY:
Baldwin EMC continues to bring power back on throughout the city. The main thoroughfares of Canal Road, Hwy. 161, and Perdido Beach Boulevard, from Hwy. 161 west to Gulf State Park are live. On Saturday, Perdido Beach Boulevard from Hwy. 161 to Alabama Point is expected to go live as well as the south side of Perdido Beach Boulevard. Next steps will be neighborhoods areas along these main road coming online. Neighborhoods with the least amount of damage or flooding will be the first to get electricity back.
HURRICANE DEBRIS PICKUP STARTS ON SUNDAY:
In order to expedite the cleanup process, the city’s debris contractor CrowderGulf will begin picking up storm debris on Sunday - one day earlier than expected. Residents need to sort piles into appropriate types such as vegetative, construction & demolition (C&D), white goods (appliances and furniture), and hazardous (paint/chemicals/poisons) piled at the edge of the property along the streetside. DO NOT BURN VEGETATIVE DEBRIS! Weather permitting, marine debris pickup will begin on Tuesday, September 22nd.
BOATS:
The city is working on compiling a list of residences with boats on their property. We are looking at how to expedite getting boats off of property. If you have a boat on your property, call City Hall at 251-981-6979, and give them your name, address and boat ID.
RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE PICKUP:
Republic Services will continue running its residential garbage pickup. If your cans haven't been picked up yet, leave them out.
EXTRA SECURITY:
In order to increase security in our community, 40 additional police officers will be coming to town this weekend from cities throughout Alabama, including Hoover, Oxford, Calhoun, Washington County and Bay Minette. Theft, fraud and scam artists will not be tolerated.
CONTRACTORS MUST BE LICENSED:
Be aware of "fake" contractors. Please make sure if you contract someone to help with your home that they have a current Orange Beach Business License. Contact Orange Beach Police Department for any suspicious activity at 251-981-9777. Contractors can obtain Orange Beach business licenses at the Finance Department, 4151 Orange Beach Blvd. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, and Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19-20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to issue new licenses. If you have a question regarding a license, contact the Finance Department at 251-981-6096. Contractors can also apply online and will be contacted within 24 hours. Find more information at https://www.orangebeachal.gov/departments/finance-department/about. ALL BUSINESSES OPERATING IN THE CITY OF ORANGE BEACH NEED A BUSINESS LICENSE.
BUILDING PERMITS:
For emergency repairs, permits are not needed; however, for all permanent repairs, permits are required!
PIERS:
If you are repairing your pier on its current, established footprint, we are not requiring a building permit.
HURRICANE DECALS:
The Finance Department will resume issuing hurricane decals at 8 a.m. Monday, September 21st.
WATER:
The independent Orange Beach Water Authority has restored water to all of its customers. The precautionary boil water authority is still in effect until results from samples have been received.
MAIL:
For residents who have lost mailboxes, your mail will be at the Post Office. Once the post office reopens, you can pick it up there.
STRICT CURFEW:
Curfew remains in effect nightly until further notice from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. This curfew is to better protect and secure residences and get vehicles off the roads while power is not available.
MEDICAL NEEDS:
Orange Beach Fire Department Station 1 and Station 2 is providing basic medical triage aid, 24/7, until Monday September 21. Gulf Shores Urgent Care is also open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Southern Rapid Care will be open from 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday.
COMMODITIES UPDATE AT POINT OF DISTRIBUTION (POD) SITE AT ORANGE BEACH REC CENTER:
We now have ICE & WATER, in addition to several hygiene and cleaning items. Directional map below.
- Lunch and dinner will be served to the community at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.
- Lunch and dinner for first responders and city employees will be at the community center.
- Verizon will have two semi trucks with self-sufficient generators that carry 130 charging stations each at the Community Center and Sportsplex beginning on Saturday. The truck at the Community Center arrived just after lunchtime and the truck for the sportsplex is due to arrive around 3 p.m. Saturday.
ORANGE BEACH WATER AUTHORITY BOIL WATER ADVISORY
The Orange Beach Water Authority is experiencing extreme loss of water due to damage caused from Hurricane Sally. Therefore, a BOIL WATER ADVISORY has been issued until further notice.
Loss of water pressure in the distribution system increases the chance that untreated water and harmful microbes can enter the water lines.
To ensure destructions of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, all tap water used for drinking, food preparation and making ice should be boiled prior to consumption. The water should be brought to vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
Once analysis has been conducted on submitted water samples, and an evaluation has been determined about the water quality, updated information will be provided by the Water Authority.
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