First responders in Flomaton took to the streets Wednesday afternoon after the heavy rains and winds subsided. Crews spread out across town in groups to begin clearing roads. Above, firemen clear the entrance to Flomaton Woods Apartments.
Hurricane Sally slammed into the gulf coast as a category 2 storm early Wednesday morning bringing heavy rains and winds across the area.
Reports showed the storm made a late eastern turn before making landfall. Reports Monday and Tuesday were that the storm hit hit along the Alabama-Mississippi line.
Estimates are that the storm will dump more than 20 inches of rain in some areas. Across the tri-county area there were reports of power outages, trees down and water crossing the road.
Flash flood waters were crossing Highway 31 in Flomaton early Wednesday morning.
As of press time, there had been no reports of injury or death associated with the storm.
Escambia County (Ala.) Emergency Management Director David Adams said the area can expect extension flooding beginning Wednesday and Thursday.
He said Murder Creek in Brewton is expected to crest Thursday morning at 33 feet. He noted flood stage there is 22 feet.
"If the numbers hold true, above 22 feet gets into Highway 31," he said.
He also said if the rain numbers hold true, he expects flooding in Flomaton as well. The Alabama Department of Transportation placed road signs in Flomaton warning motorist about flooding.
"We can expect a lot of rain close to us," Adams said. "I've seen forecasts of of up to 12 to 15 inches in the western part of the county and up to 20 inches in isolated areas."
Sally was headed toward the Alabama-Mississippi line as a possible category 3 hurricane and then slowed down before making landfall. Adams said the slowing down may end some of the wind damage, but it will bring more rain than expected.
Adams said as of Tuesday afternoon the storm was moving at about 2 mph and is pulling in moisture.
"We could still see winds in the 40 mph range with gust higher," Adams said. "I do expect we will have some power outages in some areas."
With the treat of the storm, state offices were closed Tuesday at the Escambia County Courthouse in Brewton and schools were canceled across the county.
Escambia County School Superintendent John Knott said Tuesday that schools will also be closed Wednesday and a decision on Thursday would come later Wednesday.
"We are concerned about water on the road and the possibility of flash flooding," Knott said. "We want to take the (bus) route to be as safe as we can. We have to be safe."
Knott said any decision of whether schools reopen Friday will be made at a later date.
Knott did say that the days lost to the storm would not have to be made up, since Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency due to the storm. He added his main concern was water over roads, which makes transporting students in buses more dangerous..
Flomaton Police Chief Chance Thompson said he and other officers have been knocking on doors and using a loud speaker to warn residents in flood areas to stay attention to the weather.
"We just want people to be aware of what could happen," Thompson said. "We've knocked on some doors and we've been using our P.A. system riding down the road. We just want people to be safe."
