Foley flood, hurricane and water damage help

Foley sits at about 62 feet where U.S. 98 crosses State Highway 59, roughly 10 miles from Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Baldwin County has been part of fourteen federal major disaster declarations since 2000, including Ivan, Dennis, Katrina, Gustav, Isaac, Nate and Sally.

Fire & Water Energy only makes referrals and never does the repair work itself. Call (866) 937-3230 and we'll try to connect you with an independent restoration contractor serving the area, depending on who is available nearby. Find the details on our referral disclosure page.

Sally, slow storms and south Baldwin rainfall

Sally made landfall at Gulf Shores on September 16, 2020 as a strong Category 2 hurricane with 105 mph winds, moving at less than 5 mph. The National Weather Service recorded 21.04 inches of rain in Foley, part of a 15 to 30 inch swath across the county. The Fish and Styx Rivers reached major flood stage, back bays in southeast Baldwin saw 7 to 9 feet of inundation, and almost the entire county lost power.

Federal declarations show this is not unusual. Since 2000 the county has also been covered for Tropical Storm Ida (2009), flooding tied to Hurricane Ike (2008), and severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in 2009, 2011 and 2014.

What drives water damage repair calls in Foley

Tropical rain bands and summer storms test roofs constantly, and wind-driven water often slips in around flashing, skylights and windows. The long cooling season adds clogged condensate drains, sweating ducts and overflowing pans in attics, all of which can soak ceilings over time.

Plumbing failures such as burst supply lines, leaking water heaters and dishwasher connections round out the list, and seasonal or rental homes can leak unnoticed for days. A sound plan for water damage restoration in Foley includes stopping the source, extracting water and drying walls, floors and cabinets with monitored equipment. Our pages on emergency water removal and water damage restoration describe the process.

Federal disaster declarations that included Baldwin County

FEMA records show Baldwin County was included in 14 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (9 hurricane, 5 severe storm, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in Foley was affected. The most recent:

• 2020 – Hurricane Sally (DR-4563)
• 2017 – Hurricane Nate (DR-4349)
• 2014 – Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4176)
• 2012 – Hurricane Isaac (DR-4082)
• 2011 – Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-1971)
• 2009 – Tropical Storm Ida (DR-1866)

Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved 2026-10-10. Counts include major disaster (DR) declarations with hurricane, flood, severe storm, tropical storm, fire, tornado, coastal storm, winter or ice storm, mudslide and dam/levee incident types.

Fire and smoke cleanup, from kitchens to generators

The town's first railroad depot burned in 1908, and fire remains a risk today, mainly from cooking, wiring and dryer lint. After hurricanes, when outages can last days, portable generators and fuel storage raise the danger, and the NWS linked post-Sally deaths to generator carbon monoxide.

Restoration companies commonly secure the house, remove charred debris, dry out water from firefighting and then clean soot and deodorize every affected room. If you want background first, try our fire damage cleanup overview or the guide to smoke odor removal.

Floodwater, hurricane debris and what comes next

Rain on Sally's scale can overwhelm ditches, retention ponds and low streets, pushing water into garages and living areas. Floodwater from outdoors should be handled as contaminated, so soaked carpet, pad, insulation and lower drywall are usually removed while surfaces are cleaned and disinfected before drying.

The City of Foley posts flood zone information, including Special Flood Hazard Area permit forms and a link to check whether a property is in a floodplain. Wind damage typically calls for roof tarping and tree removal before interior work. See our guides to flood cleanup and hurricane damage cleanup.

Controlling mold in a coastal county

Close to the Gulf, warm, humid air makes mold a quick follow-up to any leak or flood, especially when power outages shut off air conditioning. Cabinets, wall cavities and carpet pad are common hiding places.

The EPA suggests professional help for growth larger than about 10 square feet or any mold linked to floodwater. Contractors typically contain the area, run HEPA filtration and remove what cannot be cleaned, as our mold remediation page describes.

Safety and records for Foley property owners

• Dial 911 for fire, injuries, gas odors or downed lines, and stay out of floodwater.
• Enroll in Alert Baldwin for severe weather and evacuation notices from Baldwin County EMA.
• Review the city's flood zone information before you rebuild.
• Photograph damage, and keep receipts for emergency repairs.
• Ask your insurer or agent how wind, flood and water damage are covered; flood policies are typically separate.

Once everyone is safe, phone (866) 937-3230 or look through our Alabama coverage list.

Neighborhoods and nearby communities

Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from Foley):

• Gulf Shores · 11 mi
• Fairhope · 15 mi
• Daphne · 19 mi
• Pensacola, FL · 28 mi
• Mobile · 29 mi
• Tillmans Corner · 32 mi

Restoration guides

• Flood Cleanup
• Hurricane Damage Cleanup
• Emergency Water Removal
• Water Damage Restoration
• Fire Damage Cleanup
• Mold Remediation

Local resources for Foley residents

• City of Foley flood zone information
• Alert Baldwin
• NWS Mobile: Hurricane Sally

Sources

• Wikipedia: Foley, Alabama
• National Weather Service Mobile: Hurricane Sally
• City of Foley: Flood Zone Information

← More Alabama cities