Please observe burn ban – a message from the Foley Fire Chief
As our weather continues to improve and storm debris is being gathered, the Foley Fire Department is asking all area residents and property owners to refrain from open burning for safety and compliance with the current burn ban. Baldwin County is one of 12 counties currently under the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) burn ban effective from May 1 through October 31 each year. The purpose of this burn ban is to combat the formation of ground-level ozone and the generation of fine particulate matter during the warm weather months. There are [...]
Debris Removal Update
At the end of the day Thursday, Oct. 1, trucks had picked up 3,344 vegetative loads of debris in Foley. There were 45 trucks in operation that day. A total of 178,567 cubic yards of vegetative debris and 2,694 cubic yards of construction debris including drywall, carpet and furniture was collected. Trucks will make a first sweep across the city and then will return a second time to give homeowners longer to clean up their property. Please separate debris into categories: construction, vegetative, large appliance and hazardous waste. Residents are asked to please not [...]
Foley Pairs With National Guard in Wake of Hurricane
The City of Foley has faced many challenges in 2020. Hurricane Sally was one challenge that won’t soon be forgotten by its residents. Luckily the City was able to pair with the C Company 1/173rd Infantry of the Army National Guard to assist numerous people without basic necessities. Foley set up a Point of Distribution (POD) site in the days after the storm to distribute ready-to-eat meals, water, tarps, and ice free of charge. The items were supplied by the federal government. Sgt. Garey Buscaino said the Guard worked together with Foley’s leadership to [...]
Fortified Buildings Weather Sally
It’s easy to tell which homes have Fortified roofs in the wake of Hurricane Sally, quips Roy Wright. The ones that don’t are color-coded with blue tarps. Wright, who is CEO of the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, based in Charlotte, doesn’t find much humor in the wake of Hurricane Sally. But he finds satisfaction in seeing that the Fortified roof and building standards his group developed and has been promoting for a decade or more have proved themselves. Wright toured Baldwin County’s coastal areas this week to see how the [...]
City of Foley approves 2020-21 fiscal year budget
The City of Foley has approved its 2020-21 fiscal year budget. As the end of the 2019-20 budget draws near, city officials report that while underbudget, the city has weathered the storm. “Even though we’ve gone through this year with COVID-19 and the closure of a lot of our businesses for weeks during the springtime, it looks like if you combine these four taxes [sales, gas, lodging, and rental] and compare 2020 to 2019, we’re going to be just about flat, maybe slightly above,” said City Administrator Mike Thompson. Read more on gulfcoastnewstoday.com.
Debris everywhere
The question on everyone's mind is when will all this debris be taken away? Contractors are working across Foley, from early morning until almost dark, seven days a week, to remove the unprecedented amount of debris from downed trees left in the wake of Hurricane Sally. On Sunday, Sept. 27, a total of 39 of the huge trucks, averaging 9.8 loads per day, were hauling away debris. The seven day collection total was 102,000 cubic yards. Think of a cubic yard as the size of a washing machine. Early estimates predict vegetative debris [...]
Governor Ivey Announces Federal Assistance for Alabama Hurricane Survivors Tops $11 Million
MONTGOMERY – Governor Ivey on Monday announced that Hurricane Sally survivors in Baldwin, Escambia and Mobile counties have been approved for more than $11 million in federal disaster assistance in just over one week since President Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Alabama. Through Sept. 28, FEMA has approved housing grants to individuals and families totaling $11,153,079. “Hurricane Sally took a punch to our coastal areas, but thanks in part to the millions of dollars in federal assistance, the people of Alabama are moving along the road to recovery,” Governor Ivey said. “I [...]
FEMA mobile registration unit at Foley Satellite Courthouse
FEMA will be at the Foley Satellite Courthouse today (Sept. 28) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is anticipated to be there at least until Wednesday but will then be moved to Bay Minette on Thursday thru Saturday them moved to Fairhope Satellite Monday – Wednesday. They can assist you in applying for FEMA disaster assistance. FEMA Assistance Homeowners and renters whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane XX may be eligible for FEMA assistance, which includes: Financial assistance for temporary housing, including rental assistance and lodging expenses, if your home [...]
Update #10, Sept. 25, 5:00 p.m.
City News City Hall and essential departments will be open Monday, Sept. 28. All city departments will reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 29. The Foley Public Library is now open Monday – Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Stop in to charge a phone or enjoy air conditioning. The Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermens Market will be closed this Saturday, Sept. 26. They will reopen next Saturday, Oct. 3. Graham Creek Preserve pavilion and Miles’s Play Garden will be open Saturday, Sept. 26. The Interpretive Center, canoe launch, archery park, outdoor classroom and [...]
Update #9, Sept. 24, 5:00 p.m.
City Departments The Foley Public Library reopened today, with modified hours from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Saturday for now. The library offers computer workstations to provide online access and charging stations, as well as a cool place to be for those without utility service. Foley City Hall is open. Hours are Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (251) 943-1545. Graham Creek Nature Preserve, the welcome center, museums, and train ride around the park are closed. Municipal Court The Foley Municipal Court will reopen on Monday, Sept. 28. Court [...]