Kay Ivey declares State of Emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Nate
Gov. Kay Ivey issued a state of emergency for Alabama due to potential tropical weather this weekend, which has already been blamed for 22 deaths in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Nate is expected to reach the northern Gulf Coast this weekend as a hurricane when it makes landfall on Sunday morning. This storm is expected to bring direct impacts from wind, storm surge and heavy rain. “I have signed the State of Emergency, because it frees up personnel and resources in case there is a need to respond to any storm related activity,” Ivey said. “State and local leaders are ready to respond if needed, but our people need to stay weather-aware and heed any directions given by local officials.” Winds are forecast to reach 75 mph and gusts up to 90 mph. Further inland over the western 2/3 of the state, sustained tropical storm force winds of 35-45 mph with gusts to 60mph are forecasted as far north as the Birmingham/Gadsden region. Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Brian Hastings asked Alabamians to prepare for the storm now. “The time for residents to prepare is now. Please build or restock your emergency preparedness kit, have a plan to communicate with family members if you lose power, review your evacuation plan with your family, stock your vehicle with emergency supplies and have a method to receive the latest weather updates and emergency instructions,” Hastings said. “It is important for Alabama residents to understand the potential threat of this storm goes beyond the coastal counties. Everyone needs to closely monitor this system as it moves across the state in the coming days.” The measure is effective as of Friday at 7:00 a.m. and will remain in effect until the threat diminishes.
Alabama U-Haul locations offering free storage ahead of Tropical Storm Nate
As Alabamians prepare for Tropical Storm Nate, U-Haul is preemptively offering residents free self-storage for 30 days in facilities across the state to residents who stand to be impacted by the storm and the flooding it is expected to cause. “At this point, we are uncertain about where the storm will strike,” said Chadwick Rome, U-Haul Company of South Alabama president. “We want to proactively offer 30 days of free self-storage so that everyone is prepared. This is one way U-Haul can be a good neighbor to the communities we serve.” Tropical Storm Nate is currently making its way through the southwestern Caribbean and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane that could affect the U.S. Gulf Coast. According to the National Hurricane Center, Nate could reach hurricane status as early as Saturday when it’s expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico. Its projected track shows it will make landfall as a weak Category 1 hurricane, with winds of about 80 mph, somewhere between New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning. The U-Haul Companies of South Alabama, Central Alabama and Northern Alabama have made 26 facilities across 14 cities available to help. Families seeking self-storage assistance should contact the nearest participating facility (locations alphabetized by city): U-Haul Moving & Storage of Auburn 1301 Opelika Road Auburn, Ala. 36830 (334) 887-3412 U-Haul Moving & Storage of Birmingham 540 Valley Ave. Birmingham, Ala. 35209 (205) 942-6833 U-Haul Moving & Storage at Center Point 1636 Center Point Parkway Birmingham, Ala. 35215 (205) 854-7763 U-Haul Moving & Storage of East Lake 7733 First Ave. N. Birmingham, Ala. 35206 (205) 833-1208 U-Haul Moving & Storage of Fairgrounds 3028 Bessemer Road Birmingham, Ala. 35208 (205) 785-1524 U-Haul Moving & Storage of Mountainbrook 3195 Hwy. 280 Birmingham, Ala. 35243 (205) 262-9115 U-Haul Moving & Storage at Uptown 800 28th St. N. Birmingham, Ala. 35203 (205) 730-7821 U-Haul Moving & Storage at 6th Ave. 1802 6th Ave. SE Decatur, Ala. 35601 (256) 350-2955 U-Haul Moving & Storage at Montgomery Hwy. 1402 Montgomery Hwy. Dothan, Ala. 36301 (334) 794-6681 U-Haul Moving & Storage of Fultondale 1588 Carson Road Fultondale, Ala. 35217 (205) 608-1103 U-Haul Moving & Storage of Gadsden 1707 Kyle Ave. Gadsden, Ala. 35901 (256) 543-9502 U-Haul Moving & Storage at Putman Drive 4400 University Drive NW Huntsville, Ala. 35816 (256) 837-0203 U-Haul Moving & Storage at Sparkman Drive 1903 Sparkman Drive NW Huntsville, Ala. 35816 (256) 830-6464 U-Haul Moving & Storage at UAH Campus 4440 University Drive Huntsville, Ala. 35816 (256) 721-6995 U-Haul Moving & Storage of Bel Air 200 W. I-65 Service Road S. Mobile, Ala. 36608 (251) 343-7101 U-Haul Moving & Storage of Downtown Mobile 970 ½ Springhill Ave. Mobile, Ala. 36604 (251) 433-1548 U-Haul Moving & Storage of Springdale 3755 Airport Blvd. Mobile, Ala. 36608 (251) 344-0661 U-Haul Moving & Storage at The Loop 2507 Government St. Mobile, Ala. 36606 (251) 476-6548 U-Haul Moving & Storage of West End Montgomery 3138 Mobile Hwy. Montgomery, Ala. 36108 (334) 262-7701 U-Haul Moving & Storage of Woodmere 2525 Eastern Blvd. Montgomery, Ala. 36117 (334) 239-0471 U-Haul Moving & Storage of Oxford 523 Hamric Drive W Oxford, Ala. 36203 (256) 835-9152 U-Haul Moving & Storage at Pelham 2797 Pelham Parkway Pelham, Ala. 35124 (205) 663-3220 U-Haul Moving & Storage of Prattville 1221 S. Memorial Drive Prattville, Ala. 36067 (334) 380-4348 U-Haul Moving & Storage at Skyland Blvd. 124 Skyland Blvd. E. Tuscaloosa, Ala. 35405 (205) 349-1353 U-Haul Moving & Storage of Vestavia 1024 Montgomery Hwy. Vestavia Hills, Ala. 35216 (205) 822-4932 U-Haul Moving & Storage of Vestavia Hills 1420 Montgomery Hwy. Vestavia Hills, Ala. 35216 (205) 978-7587
