Alabama Power is bringing in more than 5,700 additional resources from 25 states and staging crews and equipment ahead of Hurricane Isaias, the company announced Friday.
Isaias strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane Friday morning and is forecast to make landfall near the Alabama-Florida line Friday night. It is the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season.
The Birmingham-based utility, which serves 1.6 million customers, said it has adjusted work schedules and positioned crews so restoration work can begin once the storm passes and conditions are safe.
“Preparation is one of the most important parts of storm response,” said Scott Moore, senior vice president of Power Delivery for Alabama Power. “Our teams train and plan for events like this throughout the year, and that preparation gives us the flexibility to make informed decisions and adapt as the forecast and potential impacts become clearer.”
“Our teams prepare for storms like this well before the first rain drops arrive,” the company said. “That gives us the ability to begin responding as safely and quickly as conditions allow if outages occur.”
National Weather Service warnings cover most of the state. Hurricane warnings are in effect for counties including Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Conecuh and Covington.
Tropical storm warnings extend north through Montgomery, Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, and a high wind warning takes effect early Saturday for north Alabama counties including Madison.
The National Weather Service expects gusts of 50 to 65 mph across the tropical storm warning area Friday night into Saturday, enough to bring down trees and power lines. Meteorologist James Spann of the Alabama Weather Network wrote Friday that long-duration power outages are possible on the coast and across much of inland Alabama.
Alabama Power’s Storm Center page features a video in which Spann and Meredith Morgan, a Power Delivery engineer for the company, discuss storm preparation and safety ahead of Isaias.
Governor Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency for 40 counties on Wednesday. On Thursday she ordered tourists and visitors to leave Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Dauphin Island and closed state offices in nine south Alabama counties beginning at noon Friday.
“We often hear in emergency management: Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst,” Ivey said in a video message. “That is the approach we need with this particular storm system.”
Alabama Power asked customers to finish preparing before conditions deteriorate.
“We encourage our customers to stay weather aware, follow guidance from local officials, have multiple ways to receive weather alerts, and make sure phones and other essential devices are charged,” the company said.
Customers can report an outage at AlabamaPower.com, through the Alabama Power mobile app or by calling 800-888-2726. Outage alerts are available by texting “Enroll” to APCOUT (272688) from a cellphone registered to an Alabama Power account. The company’s outage map shows outages by county, ZIP code, city or municipality.
“Above all, put safety first,” the company said. “Stay away from downed or hanging power lines and never attempt to remove limbs or debris that may be touching electrical equipment.”
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
