CLANTON ˆ At the request of local emergency management officials, Governor

Bob Riley on Sunday ordered the mandatory evacuation of residents of low

lying and flood prone areas of southern Mobile County and Baldwin County

due to the threat posed by Hurricane Gustav.

The evacuation order, which went into effect at 7 a.m. Sunday, applies to all

residents of Mobile County in Hurricane Evacuation Zone 1, which is south of

Interstate 10 and includes areas such as Fowl River, Coden and Bayou La

Batre, and all Baldwin County residents on Fort Morgan Peninsula, Plash

Island, and areas south of Fort Morgan Road in the city of Gulf Shores.

“I’ve discussed this with local officials and we’re in agreement this evacuation

is necessary to protect the lives of these residents,” said Governor Riley.

The current track of Hurricane Gustav indicates the primary threat posed to

Alabamians is going to be flooding in these areas.”

The 3,000 Alabama National Guard troops the Governor activated earlier

remain on alert, and the Alabama Department of Transportation continues to

have staff propositioned along Interstate 65 and are ready to reverse lanes if

and when that becomes necessary. Alabama State Troopers also remain

deployed to assist the flow of evacuation.