Robin's Blog for Dauphin Island

Hello everyone!  The Town of Dauphin Island acted quickly to get Bienville Boulevard cleared for vehicle passage and will be clearing Sehoy and Island Shore in the next couple of days.  I was able to make it down to the end by the West End Beach with no problems.  The police checkpoint remains located at Raphael Semmes however.  Contractors are now allowed to begin repair work but only if they have the proper permitting in place available through Town Hall.

While I was out photographing Bienville Boulevard, I happened to meet up with Jeff Collier, Mayor and Corey Moore, Building Inspector.  It appears FEMA will hopefully make a decision next week regarding whether or not to declare the Alabama coastline a disaster area.  The threshold for funds becoming available is $5 million in damage.  The mayor estimates Dauphin Island to bear approximately $4 million in damage and we are not sure of the damages incurred along Baldwin County's beaches.  We do know that the Gulf State Pier in Gulf Shores took on some damage but to what monetary extent is not known at this time.  Should FEMA not provide assistance, then the repairs will be the Town's responsibility for the repairs to the damage.  Those two scenario's will have separate consequences.  If we are afforded funds by FEMA, then the government "calls the shots" on what is done, how the sand is treated and where the sand will be placed.  And if the Town (and it's citizens) bear the responsibility, the sand will end up where the Town decides.  Both Jeff Collier and Corey Moore indicated they wish to put the sand back on the beach.

Here are some photos I took of Bienville Boulevard on 11-15-09.  I'll be posting more updates this coming week.