Spanish Fort council hears storm damage reports, moves to consider local emergency declaration

Spanish Fort city officials heard multiple public reports of storm-related erosion and property damage and introduced a resolution declaring a state of local emergency to speed recovery and federal/state aid.

At a special meeting called to address storm impacts, resident Sonia Van Cleave told the council her ditch “had 2 places where it failed” and that the collapse drained water into her yard and a neighbor’s property, removing “about 20 or 30 feet” of her lot along Patrician Drive. Resident Joshua Thompson said a backyard bulkhead at 130 Patrician Drive is “starting to fail” and that he is consulting engineers and contractors because the structure is close to his house.

The council discussed city and county damage assessments and the steps residents should take to preserve eligibility for assistance. The mayor and city staff urged residents to report damage to the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency through its official channels and to the Baldwin County VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster). The city posted guidance on its social media pages and provided a Baldwin County EMA phone number during the meeting: (251) 972-6807.

City staff told the council the city had “identified over $10,000,000 worth of repairs” across the jurisdiction but also referred to a separate $9.5 million threshold when discussing eligibility for larger disaster declarations; staff said final eligibility and totals will depend on EMA and state/federal review. A city staff member reading the proposed resolution said the severe thunderstorm, flooding, road damage, drainage issues and slope failures began “on or about 04/06/2025.”

The council was presented with Resolution 15 O 1 20 25, described in the meeting as “a resolution declaring a state of local emergency in the City of Spanish Fort, Alabama.” The text read during the meeting would (if adopted) authorize emergency powers for the city, waive certain procedures in section 31-9-10(b)(5), and require compliance with Baldwin County EMA reporting requirements. Council moved to suspend the rules for immediate consideration; the motion and a second were recorded, and the meeting moved to a roll-call vote. The transcript provided ends before a final roll-call result on the resolution is recorded.

Officials asked residents to document damage (photos, video) and to report individual losses directly to Baldwin County EMA and through the city’s posted links so the city can compile a comprehensive damage report for state and federal review. Staff said local crews and mutual-aid partners from Daphne, Bay Minette, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have been surveying public and known private damage but warned that some private properties may not yet have been inspected.

The meeting closed with instructions that residents with damage in the city right-of-way should report those incidents to the city for possible city-led inclusion in the formal damage assessment; damage to private property should be reported individually to EMA and to personal insurers. The city will continue compiling reports and will follow Baldwin County EMA and state guidance for next steps toward potential state and federal assistance.