By Josh Moon
Alabama Political Reporter
The phone rang early in the Alabama governor’s mansion Sunday morning.
President Donald Trump was calling.
Gov. Kay Ivey said Trump called twice on Sunday to assure her that he had “Alabama covered” in case of issues with Hurricane Irma. Asked by Ivey what that meant, she said Trump told her he had a team in place all ready to deal with the storm.
The state also has a team.
Ivey and members of Alabama’s Emergency Management team held a press conference Sunday afternoon to update citizens and Irma evacuees on the state’s preparations for what will likely be tropical storm-like conditions in some areas.
“The vast majority of Alabamians are only going to be affected by thunderstorm like wind and rain,” Ivey said. “The eastern portions of our state, though, they need to prepare for a tropical storm.”
EMA director Brian Hastings said the state already has a solid plan in place.
“We’ve had time to prepare for this storm and put a plan in place that we’re very confident in,” Hastings said. “Alabama citizens know how to deal with a storm like this – we’ve done it before. We just need to remember what we’ve learned in the past and use it.”
Alabama has opened two official shelters for evacuees and any state residents in need – one location in Baldwin County at the Robertsdale coliseum and another in Montgomery at Alabama State University. Neither location was at capacity by midday on Sunday, but Hastings said more locations could be opened if needed. (To get shelter location and information, call 211.)
Additionally, state officials said five EMA regional stations will remain open until the storm passes and personnel will be available to assist anyone in need.
Also, traffic conditions around the state can be monitored by going to www.algotraffic.com.
