Find your Mobile County evacuation zone, where shelters and sandbags were for Isaias, and Alabama's Feb. 26-28, 2027 tax-free weekend. Alerts: text MOBILEALERT.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Mobile’s hurricane preparedness page, the Mobile County Emergency Management Agency and the Alabama Department of Revenue’s sales tax holiday pages.

Hurricane season runs June 1 through Nov. 30. When Hurricane Isaias approached on Oct. 9, 2026, the city said the biggest threats were storm surge, rain and wind damage. It opened shelters, handed out sandbags, closed city offices and set a 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. This guide is what to do before the next storm.

Who to call

  • Emergency (life or safety, people trapped, sparking wires): 911
  • Storm debris, fallen limbs, blocked roads with no danger: Mobile 311 at 311 or 251-208-5311, or online
  • Mobile Police non-emergency: 251-208-7211
  • Power outages: Alabama Power, 1-800-888-2726
  • Water and sewer emergencies: MAWSS, 251-694-3165, 24 hours
  • Gas emergencies: 911; Spire customer service 800-292-4008
  • Help getting to a shelter: 211

Know your evacuation zone

Look up your address on the Mobile County EMA’s evacuation zone lookup. The City of Mobile says it does not have the authority to order an evacuation; orders come from the State of Alabama, and the city shares them. Plan more than one route. The city notes you do not need to travel hundreds of miles: a friend or relative in a well-built home outside flood-prone areas can be enough. Plan for your pets.

Flood zones: the city posts a flood zone map for the city. Building in a flood zone needs a permit; see our permits guide.

Shelters

Shelters open for each storm, and the locations can change. For Hurricane Isaias, opening at 8 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, Mobile County Public Schools served as shelters:

Shelter Address Notes
Theodore High School 6201 Swedetown Road North, Theodore General shelter and the county’s medical needs shelter
Baker High School 8901 Airport Blvd., Mobile General shelter
Collins-Rhodes Elementary School 5110 St. Stephens Road, Eight Mile General shelter

Getting there: for Isaias, Second Line Transit buses picked up shelter riders at the Bel Air Mall parking lot until 9:30 a.m.; anyone who could not get there called 211.

Pets: only trained service animals are allowed inside. For Isaias, Mobile County Animal Shelter vehicles at each shelter took household pets to the county shelter on Howells Ferry Road.

What to bring: prescription medicines and medical supplies; baby formula, diapers and special diet items; food, water and personal items for up to 72 hours; bedding, blankets and pillows; and cleaning supplies such as soap, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes.

Sandbags

When a storm threatens, the City of Mobile provides sand and sandbags for residents in flood-prone areas, while supplies last. Before Isaias they were handed out from 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at:

  • Mobile Police Department Precinct 1, 2601 Dauphin Island Parkway, Suite D
  • James Seals Community Center, 540 Texas St.

Trash before a storm

Do not put a trash pile out when a storm is coming; the city warns that piles become wind-blown debris. Bring garbage carts in as soon as they are emptied. The city posts storm changes to trash and recycling on its hurricane page. See our trash guide for the regular schedule.

Alabama’s severe weather sales tax holiday

The state waives sales tax on storm supplies from 12:01 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26, to midnight Sunday, Feb. 28, 2027, according to the Department of Revenue’s 2027 fact sheet. The City of Mobile and Mobile County both take part every year, according to the state’s list of participating localities, so their sales taxes come off too.

  • $94 or less per item: batteries (AAA, AA, C, D, 6-volt and 9-volt), cellphone batteries and chargers, battery-powered or self-powered radios including NOAA weather radios, flashlights and lanterns, tarps and plastic sheeting, tie-down kits, duct tape, plywood or window film made to protect windows, coolers and water containers, manual can openers, ice packs, first aid kits, fire extinguishers, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and gas or diesel cans.
  • $1,564 or less: a portable generator and power cords used for light, communications or keeping food.
  • Not covered: coin batteries and car or boat batteries.

Build a kit, make a plan

The city’s severe weather preparedness guide lists a basic kit: water, food, a radio, flashlights, extra batteries, a first aid kit, phone chargers, a whistle, medicines, and glasses or contacts. Write your plan and your emergency contacts on paper, including utilities, because the internet may be down after a storm.

Stay informed

Frequently asked questions

How do I find my hurricane evacuation zone in Mobile County?

Enter your address in the Mobile County Emergency Management Agency’s evacuation zone lookup, linked from the City of Mobile’s hurricane page. The City of Mobile cannot order an evacuation; orders come from the state, and the city passes them on.

Where are hurricane shelters in Mobile?

Shelters open storm by storm. For Hurricane Isaias in October 2026, Mobile County Public Schools opened Theodore High School (also the medical needs shelter), Baker High School and Collins-Rhodes Elementary as shelters.

Where can I get sandbags in Mobile?

When a storm threatens, the City of Mobile hands out sand and sandbags for flood-prone areas. Before Isaias they were at Mobile Police Precinct 1, 2601 Dauphin Island Parkway, and the James Seals Community Center, 540 Texas St.

When is Alabama’s hurricane sales tax holiday?

The 2027 Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday runs 12:01 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26, to midnight Sunday, Feb. 28. The City of Mobile and Mobile County both take part, so their sales taxes are also waived on covered items.

How do I get emergency alerts in Mobile County?

Text MOBILEALERT to 226787 for Mobile County EMA alerts, and MOBILEEMERGENCY to 91896 for City of Mobile alerts. The NOAA weather radio station for Mobile is KEC61 on 162.550.