User:Cyclonebiskit/Sally

Hurricane Sally was a slow-moving tropical cyclone that produced destructive flooding across southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle in September 2020.

Meteorological history
The hurricane originated in early September from a trough over the western Atlantic Ocean associated with Tropical Storm Omar. This system gradually organized as it moved southwest toward the Bahamas, eventually becoming a tropical depression over the archipelago between Andros Island and Bimini on September 11. Steering along a general west course by a ridge, the depression made landfall near Miami, Florida, early the next day. While traversing the Everglades it strengthened into a tropical storm, the 18th of the season. Turning west-northwest, Sally steadily organized with moderate wind shear being an inhibiting factor. A brief reprieve in shear allowed the storm to rapidly intensify to a hurricane on September 14, with winds reaching 85 mph (140 km/h). Steering currents soon collapsed and Sally became nearly stationary south of Mobile Bay.

Wind shear increased again on September 15, disrupting the hurricane's structure and causing it to weaken slightly. The hurricane's slow movement led to a prolonged period of heavy rain across southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle with multiple convective bands sweeping across the area. Later in the day, Sally turned north and north-northeast toward the coastline. A significant increase in upper-level divergence fostered re-intensification and Sally rapidly intensified for a second time early on September 16. In the hours leading up to its second landfall, Sally became a Category 2 hurricane and attained maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) as it moved ashore near Gulf Shores, Alabama. Once over land, the combined influences of friction and shear took a toll and the hurricane quickly weakened to a tropical depression by September 17. Accelerating northeast across Georgia and The Carolinas, Sally transitioned into an extratropical cyclone before dissipating on September 18.

Preparations
States of emergency were declared in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama in preparation for Sally's arrival. Emergencies were also declared in the East Baton Rouge and St. Bernard parishes in Louisiana and Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties in Florida as well as New Orleans and Pensacola, Florida.


 * FMCSA
 * Federal Communications Commission
 * Department of Energy September 15
 * Department of Energy September 16

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Throughout the entirety of Sally's existence as a tropical cyclone, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) maintained tropical cyclone warnings and watches for parts of the United States' Gulf Coast from September 12 to 16. Hurricane warnings reached a maximum extent from central Louisiana to the western Florida Panhandle, including coastal Mississippi and Alabbama. Storm surge watches and warnings were raised for these areas in anticipation of storm surge in excess of 3 ft. From September 14 to 18, the agency provided 108 media broadcasts through their website and media briefings. Social media posts through Twitter and Facebook reached a collective 40.76 million interactions, impressions, and reach. Hurricane warnings were ultimately issued far more west than necessary, a result of a westward forecast error from the NHC. The NHC's forecasting of Hurricane Sally saw varied results, with the overall track forecast seeing below-average errors and above-average intensity forecast errors. However, forecasts within three days of landfall in Alabama were poorer than normal. The agency attributed this to the storm's slow and erratic movement, including a sharper-than-expected turn north-northeast, forecaster anchoring bias, and computer modeling errors. In the NHC's final report on the hurricane, they stated that residents in Alabama and Florida may have suffered a false sense of security due to the westward bias. Various media outlets, including The New York Times and the Pensacola News Journal, asserted that residents in the Florida Panhandle were "unprepared" for or caught by surprise by the storm's intensity.

Ahead of Hurricane Sally's second landfall, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued tornado watches for coastal areas of Alabama and Florida on September 15. These extended into Georgia the following morning, and two other watches were issued for eastern South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina on September 17 as the hurricane's remnants moved offshore. The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) highlighted the risk of flooding rains through their excessive rainfall outlooks beginning on September 12 for southwestern Florida. The following day, the agency issued a high-risk outlook—indicating a greater than 50 percent chance of flash floods—for southeastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi. This high-risk area later shifted west and focused around coastal Alabama, southwestern Georgia, and the western Florida Panhandle by September 15 and extending through September 17. Following the hurricane's landfall, moderate-risk outlooks covered areas in Georgia, The Carolinas, Virginia, and extreme southern Maryland through September 18.

Louisiana
The mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, issued an evacuation for areas outside the levee system of the city, due to expected storm surge. The governor of Louisiana declared a state of emergency for the entire state, which was still recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Laura just three weeks earlier. Several parishes and areas were put under mandatory evacuation orders including all of St. Charles Parish, and parts of Orleans Parish, Jefferson Parish, Plaquemines Parish, and St. John the Baptist Parish. Shelters were opened while public school and university classes were cancelled throughout southeastern Louisiana for September 15. FEMA declared that they will be bringing additional resources to Louisiana for the storm's aftermath and not diverting resources away from Hurricane Laura's relief efforts. Lakeshore Drive along Lake Pontchartrain was closed before the storm as well.

An estimated 900 of Grande Isle's 1,100 residents evacuated. Approximately 50–75 percent of residents under mandatory evacuation orders in Plaquemines Parish actually evacuated; 61 people sought refuge in public shelters.


 * New Orleans Gov press reports

Mississippi
A state of emergency was declared on the night of Sunday, September 13, 2020. Mississippi governor Tate Reeves urged residents to prepare for Sally, which he said could produce up to 20 in of rain in the southern part of the state. Some shelters were opened, although officials urged people who were evacuating to stay with friends, relatives, or in hotels, if possible, because of the threat of coronavirus superspreading. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for parts of Harrison County and Hancock County.

Alabama
Alabama governor Kay Ivey closed all beaches on the coast and called for evacuations of low-lying and flood prone areas. Additionally, Dauphin Island mayor Jeff Collier strongly encouraged all people to evacuate the west end after water started to encroach on the main roadway. A state of emergency was declared by governor Kay Ivey on September 14, 2020 as public schools and university classes were either cancelled or moved online in anticipation of the storm.

The United States Postal Service suspended operations in parts of southern Alabama.

Hurlburt Field was closed on September 15 with non-essential personnel excused from duty.

In anticipation of storm surge, Bankhead Tunnel was closed.


 * Baldwin County
 * Livestock shelters
 * School closures
 * Gulf Shores mandatory curfew
 * Spanish Fort curfew
 * Orange Beach non-resident ban
 * Price gouge warning

Florida

 * Okaloosa Gov publications

Georgia

 * Preps]

The Carolinas and Virginia
On September 15, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control requested reservoir owners to open dams and reduce water levels to mitigate the risk of flooding. This came in response to destructive flooding in 2015 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Flash flood and flood watches were issued across the state on September 17, with emphasis placed on small streams and urban areas. Dry weather preceding the hurricane was expected to limit the extent of flooding in the Midlands. Conversely, antecedent coastal floods produced by Sally on September 15–16 increased the flood risk across the Lowlands. The threat of heavy rain along the northern side of Hurricane Sally's remnants prompted the issuance of flood watches for northwestern North Carolina and southwestern Virginia on September 17–18. The combined effects of Sally's remnants and the distant Hurricane Teddy were expected to produce coastal flooding, high waves, rip currents and strong winds across the northern Outer Banks and Hatteras Island. Warnings for possible coastal inundation were issued from September 18–21, with water levels expected to reach 2 –; swells of 8 – were also expected. Dare County officials advised against travel to and from Hatteras Island for the duration of the event. Coastal flood warnings were also raised for southeastern Virginia. NWS meteorologists anticipated flooding in the Hampton Roads region to be the worst since the combined impacts of a non-tropical cyclone and Hurricane Joaquin in October 2015. Forecasters warned of 12 – seas and 2 – of inundation. Public works personnel in Norfolk cleared debris from storm drains and ditches while residents were asked to clear gutters and curbs on their own properties. Norfolk and Virginia Beach also opened public garages for people to move their cars to.

Impact
A slow-moving tropical cyclone, Hurricane Sally caused a prolonged coastal flood and freshwater flood event across the Southeastern United States, primarily in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. Sally marked the fourth consecutive year the country was struck by a slow-moving tropical cyclone which produced prolific rainfall after Harvey in 2017, Florence in 2018, and Imelda in 2019. Total damage across the United States is estimated at $7.3 billion, making it one of the record-breaking seven billion-dollar tropical cyclone events in the country in 2020. According to Aon Benfield, more than 230,000 insurance claims were filed across the affected areas as of December 2020. A total of 11 people died in relation to the hurricane: 3 in Florida, 3 in Alabama, 3 in Georgia, 2 in South Carolina. A minor tornado outbreak accompanied the Sally as it traversed the Southeast with 23 tornadoes across 4 states: 12 in South Carolina, 6 in Georgia, 4 in North Carolina, and 1 in Florida. Rainfall from the storm spread across a wide area with 9 states seeing accumulations of at least 1 in.


 * NWS Mobile main page (Alabama/Florida)
 * NWS Mobile post-storm (Alabama/Florida)
 * Federal Communications Commission September 16
 * Federal Communications Commission September 17

Florida

 * NCEI reports Sep 15-17
 * Florida Office of Insurance Regulation

South Florida
Sally's antecedent depression brought heavy rain and some damaging winds to southern Florida, with the most significant effects in Collier County, Miami-Dade County, and Monroe County. Tropical storm-force wind gusts downed trees and power lines, leaving an estimated 10,000 customers without electricity. Sustained winds averaged 25 to 35 mph, with gusts peaking at 54 mph at the University of Miami Health System building within a rainband preceding the depression's landfall. Rainfall across Miami-Dade and Collier counties reached 3.5 to 10 in, resulting in moderate flooding. Marco Island Airport observed 10.23 in. Accumulations of 5 to 7 in within 6 hours flooded roads in Metropolitan Miami, particularly within Brickell, Coconut Grove, and Downtown Miami; knee-high water stalled out cars. Two homes were flooded in South Miami-Dade and a RV Park near Naples suffered $20,000-worth of flood damage. Tropical storm-force wind gusts in Collier County downed trees and power lines. Farther north in Longboat Key wind gusts reached 56 mph. Little to no coastal flooding accompanied the system's storm surge which reached 1.8 ft in Fort Meyers.

A band of heavy rain became established over the Florida Keys along the backside of Sally on September 12–13. Nearly 2 in fell in a 30 minute span and 3.95 in in one hour in Key West. The city's local National Weather Service office measured 11.36 in on September 12, an all-time daily record for that location. Accumulations of 6 – were common, and a trained spotter measured 11 in near Islamorada. These rains led to September monthly rainfall records being set in Key West and Marathon just halfway into the month. Widespread street flooding occurred across the archipelago, with numerous roads becoming impassable. Several homes and businesses were flooded and vehicles stalled out in the rising waters. Wind gusts during the event reached 54 mph near Key Largo. About 1,100 customers lost power in the Old Town district of Key West. On September 15 the sailboat Preston Point became disabled about 14 mi west of Key West amid rough seas produced by the hurricane. A United States Coast Guard helicopter located the vessel and swimmers from the USCGC Raymond Evans rescued the two crew members.

Panhandle

 * NWS Tallahassee main page
 * NWS Tallahassee post-storm
 * Florida Department of Environmental Protection report
 * Escambia County damage assessments September 29
 * Pensacola boats
 * Blackwater River
 * River evacuations

The Gulf Islands National Seashore suffered $4.5 million-worth of damage, largely stemming from damaged roads and the ferry pier which was "obliterated". The two ferries owned by Pensacola Bay Cruises were heavily damaged. The road connecting Fort Pickens to the Seashore was buried under 4 ft of sand in some locations, rendering it impassable. The two access routes to Pensacola Beach were damaged. Florida State Road 399 which runs through the Gulf Islands had a 200 ft crack in one section and multiple stretches of bike lines were destroyed. Dirt and sand underneath the Bob Sikes Bridge, which connects Pensacola Beach to Gulf Breeze, was eroded but the structure remained intact. Rough seas from the hurricane gouged three channels through an uninhabited island east of Perdido Key. Early estimates indicated Navarre Beach lost 100 million cubic yards of sand, with the eastern and western edges of the beach being most affected. The large displacement of sand altered local water currents, causing thousands of starfish to wash ashore. One hundred and thirty residences suffered damage in Navarre.
 * Gulf Islands National Seashore

Swells of 6 – across Pensacola Bay and tropical storm-force winds resulted in 27 construction barges breaking from their moorings. The barges, owned by Skanska, were being used for the new Pensacola Bay Bridge. Around 8:00 a.m. local time on September 15, one of these barges crashed into a fishing pier along the bridge, destroying 85 percent of it. It then became lodged under the bridge itself where a section of road collapsed. The following morning, a second barge hit the bridge and damaged four pilings. A crane on a third collapsed on to another section of the bridge and destroyed it. Four piers along the bridge were rotated, causing beams to shift, and another had a large crack extending underground. A fourth barge became wedged against the Garcon Point Bridge, forcing the bridge's closure. Twenty-three other barges owned by the company were dislodged by the hurricane, twelve of which became grounded and damaged private property and homes across the bay. An oyster farmer lost 800,000 oysters worth $500,000 to a wayward barge which crashed through cage anchors and safety lines.
 * Pensacola Bay


 * River crests
 * Big Coldwater Creek at Milton 21.5 ft, second highest
 * Escambia River near Century 20.85 ft, ninth highest
 * Blackwater River near Baker 24.49 ft, fifth highest
 * Shoal River near Crestview 16.61 ft, second highest
 * Shoal River near Mossy Head 25.65 ft, highest

Alabama

 * Summary

Three deaths were attributed to Sally in Alabama, all in Baldwin County: one direct and two indirect. Combined damage reports from Public and Individual Assistance reached $550 million, though this total does not include insured losses. The Alabama Forestry Commission estimated 2440 acres of forest—primarily pine and hardwood trees—were damaged by the storm, with 79,175 tons of timber valued at $1.5 million destroyed. The majority of downed trees occurred in urban areas where trees had "poor or shallow root systems" and where soil was loosened by heavy saturation. Over 1,000 pecan trees were downed across Baldwin County. Alabama Power reported damage to 400 power poles, 500 transformers, and 1,500 spans of power lines which left approximately 680,000 customers without electricity.

The hurricane's slow movement led to tremendous rainfall in southern counties, with coastal areas receiving 15 –. Inland counties south of the Interstate 85 corridor saw accumulations of 7 –. Accumulations steadily decreased to the north and areas beyond the Interstate 20 and Interstate 59 corridors saw 1 in or less. Several rivers in the region saw moderate to major floods, with a handful measuring top-five crests. The Styx River crested at 23.52 ft near Elsanor, its second-highest on record. However, the gauge stopped reporting at the time of this crest. The Fish River near Silverhill reached its third-highest crest on record at 20.71 ft. Numerous water rescued occurred along these rivers as communities were inundated.

A significant storm surge and reverse surge accompanied the hurricane's landfall across Mobile Bay. Onshore flow preceding landfall led to flooding water rise while persistent offshore flow after the center's passage caused water levels to drop dramatically. Maximum surge along the south shore of Dauphin Island reached 3.2 ft and receded to -0.34 ft normal levels along the backside of the storm. At USCG Sector Mobile in Mobile, surge reached 2.26 ft and dramatically receded to -8.14 ft over the course of 20 hours, leaving sections of the seafloor in Mobile Bay exposed. Water levels at gauges at the Mobile State Docks and Chickasaw Creek fell so low that instruments were unable to record minimum levels. Peak inundation heights reached 7 – in the back bays and sounds. Extreme rains exacerbated the effects of surge inundation.


 * Mobile County

Dauphin Island saw prolonged damaging winds from the western eyewall of Sally, with wind gusts exceeding 100 mph. Several structures suffered roof and siding damage; one home lost its entire roof. Storm surge caused major damage to docks and piers across the island. Numerous trees and power lines were downed across the county mainland resulting in widespread outages. Approximately 150,000 customers lost electricity. Mobile Regional Airport observed a peak gust of 82 mph. Some trees fell on homes, causing additional damage. The historic Bienville Square in Mobile saw extensive damage to its oak trees, with one snapped at its base. Businesses surrounding the park had windows and outdoor fixtures broken.

A sailboat in Ingram Bayou observed sustained winds of 113 mph and a peak gust of 137 mph. The Center of Severe Weather Research reported sustained winds of 93 mph and a gust to 123 mph on their mobile Doppler Radar unit. Sustained winds at an elevated station in Fort Morgan reached 100 mph with gusts to 121 mph. Two people riding out the storm in their boat had to swim to safety; one drowned during the escape and was later found in Orange Beach. Two people died in the storm's aftermath: one from carbon monoxide poisoning and one from falling debris while trying to cut a tree.
 * Baldwin County

The Gulf State Park Pier in Gulf Shores was "cut in half".

Rainfall averaged 10 – across south-central Baldin County between Interstate 10 and Highway 58. Costal areas of the state saw more than 25 in, with Orange Beach recording 29.99 in, the highest amount in relation to the storm country-wide. Nearby Fort Morgan recorded 29.3 in. Rapidly rising floodwaters led to hundreds of water rescues across the county. Numerous homes, roads, and vehicles were inundated Swollen creeks, streams, and rivers remained above flood stage after the storm's passage.

Widespread tree and power line damage occurred in Escambia County. Approximately 85 percent of residents lost power at the height of the storm. Four homes suffered major damage and several other had minor damage from downed trees. Rainfall reached 10 – across the county. Parts of Brewton were flooded by overflow from Murder Creek and Burnt Corn Creek the latter of which crested at 18.8 ft, its fourth-highest level on record. Flooding left several roads impassable in southern and eastern counties. Flooding in Crenshaw County was most notable in southern communities, with several roads and bridges washed out. A car was swept into a river along Jack Hightower Road in Barbour County. Large areas of Covington County saw 10 – of rain; flooding rendered numerous roads impassable. Every road in Geneva and northern Coffee counties were deemed impassable during the storm. Tropical storm-force wind gusts of 40 – caused minor tree and power line damage across much of southeastern Alabama. One home suffered extensive damage from a fallen tree in Grove Hill. Five homes in Covington County sustained wind damage.
 * Elsewhere


 * Sewage spill

Louisiana and Mississippi
Impacts across southeastern Louisiana were primarily limited to flooding from storm surge in low-lying areas; the maximum water rise was 6.66 ft in Plaquemines Parish. Inundation heights generally reached 1 –, affecting communities not protected by levee systems. Hundreds of roadways were covered with water, including portions of Highway 10 in Lafourche Parish and Louisiana Highway 90 in Orleans Parish. The temporary closure of the former isolated Grand Isle during the storm. Wind gusts reached 45 – in Buras and Venice in Plaquemines Parish. An oil rig off the easternmost end of the Mississippi River Delta observed two-minute sustained winds of 75 mph and a peak gust of 92 mph at an elevation of 85 m. Rainfall largely amounted to less than 1 in in the state, though some areas saw 1 –.

Modest damage occurred in Jackson County, Mississippi due to tropical storm-force winds and storm surge. Surge water flooded the ground floor of a parking lot in Biloxi and several roads across Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, and Orange Grove. At Trent Lott International Airport, sustained winds reached 40 mph and gusted to 55 mph. Sixty-two roads became impassable, primarily in coastal areas, while downed trees blocked others farther inland. Two homes were damaged by fallen trees in the county and more than 7,000 people lost power. Reverse flow along the Pascagoula River led to some flooding. In contrast to neighboring Alabama, rainfall was limited owing to a sharp gradient. Accumulations peaked at 3.27 in near Moss Point.

Georgia
While Sally was still over the Gulf of Mexico, a convergence zone between a trough on the northeast side of the storm and an approaching cold front created a localized area of heavy rain in southeastern Georgia. Training bands impacted Glynn County throughout September 14–15; measured accumulations reached 5 – near Brunswick. According to the Weather Prediction Center, precipitation peaked at 10 –. Neighborhoods north of Brunswick experienced flooding; however, the extent of damage is unknown. Several people required assistance when their cars became stranded. A truck transporting power poles tipped over during the event and beach access on St. Simons Island was cut off.

Rainfall in Georgia from the hurricane itself began on September 16 and continued through the following day. The entire state saw at least a trace of rain with the greatest accumulations focused along a southwest to northeast oriented band across the center of the state. Much of the state saw at least 2 in of rain and precipitation peaked at 7.76 in in two locations: near Kathleen in Houston County and near Montezuma in Macon County. Scattered flash flooding affected the state and flooding along rivers and streams persisted several days after the storm's passage. One person died in Cobb County when a car lost control on a rain-slicked road and crashed into a bus shelter. Slippery conditions resulted in multiple accidents along interstates, including I-75, I-85, and I-985 Flooding prompted the closure of dozens of roads in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, where 4.7 in of rain fell. The NWS issued flood warnings for areas along many rivers as water levels rose. Four riverside parks were closed in Cobb County. The Jackson Creek overtopped a bridge near Lilburn. The Williamson Swamp Creek crested at 14.66 ft, just below major flood stage, and inundated a dozen homes in Davisboro. Several sections of Georgia State Route 24 along the Sun Hill Creek collapsed or were washed out. Excess runoff along Mill Creek in Macon County caused a beaver dam to collapse, and the resulting flood covered parts of Highway 49.

Aging infrastructure in DeKalb County was overwhelmed runoff from the excessive rains and 19 sewage spills occurred in the county. Approximately 2.87 million gallons of sewage spilled from the sites collectively. The largest was at a wastewater treatment plant along Meadow Creek Path near Lithonia where 2.1 million gallons overflowed. The plant was undergoing renovation and had its capacity reduced before the storm.

By the time Sally's remnants reached Georgia, it had weakened greatly and wind gusts across the state generally peaked at 35 – with a maximum observed gust of 43 mph in Columbus. Associated thunderstorms produced stronger winds estimated up to 58 mph. Though winds were relatively tempered, saturated soils led to trees and power lines falling. A large oak tree collapsed on to a home in southwest Atlanta, killing one occupant and injuring two others. An elderly woman died in Snellville while walking her dog when a tree fell on her. Approximately 99,700 Georgia Power customers lost power during the storm. A giant oak tree—estimated to be more than 100 years old—at the historic landmark Cheek-Spruill House in Dunwoody fell during the storm. Six tornadoes touched down across the state, the strongest of which was rated EF1 and damaged dozens of homes near Blanford.

The Carolinas and Virginia
While Sally was organizing over the Gulf of Mexico on September 13, onshore flow created rip currents along the southeastern coast of South Carolina. Two children and a woman were pulled to sea by a rip current at Folly Beach. All three were rescued; however, a six-year-old boy later died at the hospital from his injuries. The aforementioned onshore flow later enhanced the astronomical high tide and water rise from a new moon and caused coastal flooding on September 15–16. Tides at Charleston Harbor reached 8.09 ft above Mean Higher High Water (MHHW), a hair above flood-stage. Several homes along Big Bay Creek near Edisto Beach experienced water inundation. Many coastal roads—including an on ramp between Highway 61 and Highway 17 —parking lots, and docks were slightly flooded. Rainfall accompanying the storm itself arrived in South Carolina on September 17 and was heaviest across the Midlands, with peaks of 8.8 in in Sumter in Sumter County, and 8.14 in near Longs in Horry County. Flash flooding closed several roads across multiple counties. A washout and sinkhole occurred along U.S. Route 15 just north of Sumter, forcing officials to close the road. Rain-slicked roads contributed to a fatal crash along Interstate 85 south of Greer when a Prius rear-ended a tractor-trailer. Twelve tornadoes touched down across the state, none of which caused damage beyond EF1. One person was injured by a tornado in Florence County. Damaging winds produced by parent thunderstorms reached 64 mph, downing trees and power lines in many counties. Power outages affected 682 residents in Ridgeland.

After Sally transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone, it interacted with an unseasonably strong cold front and produced moderate to heavy rain across portions of North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. The aforementioned interaction led to frontogenesis in southeastern Virginia, with a prominent band of heavy rain oriented southwest to northeast across the state. Rainfall averaged 3 – across much of southeastern Virginia, with a peak of 5.84 in in Greenbrier. Some flash flooding occurred in areas from Williamsburg to Virginia Beach, resulting in road closures across several counties. Three people required rescue from their cars in Virginia Beach. Residual runoff swelled rivers, including the Blackwater, Meherrin, and Nottoway rivers, with low-lying areas seeing some flooding.

The heaviest rains in North Carolina occurred in three areas: the slopes of the Appalachian Mountains in western counties, southern counties near the South Carolina border, and north-central counties along the Virginia border. Accumulations peaked at 11.13 in near Brevard. Minor flooding occurred along the French Broad River and the Little River in Transylvania County; inundation heights reached 1 ft. The secondary maxima in Brunswick County reached 7.98 in near Leland. Several roads in the county became impassable; flooding in Shallotte was deep enough to cause cars to float. Moderate rains of 2 – had negligible effects in eastern counties, with only road ponding and non-damaging river rises reported. A prolonged coastal flood event began with the remnants of Sally on September 17 and persisted until September 23 due to the effects of Hurricane Teddy. Minor flooding occurred along the Neuse River and Pamlico Sound. Along the Outer Banks of North Carolina, coastal flooding covered portions of Highway 12, destroyed 1000 ft of sand dunes, and caused severe beach erosion. Over-wash from waves occurred in Buxton. Severe weather accompanying the system produced four tornadoes in the state, the strongest of which was an EF1 near Merrimon in Carteret County with peak winds estimated at 90 –.

Elsewhere
During its formative states, Sally traversed the northern Bahamas while producing scattered showers and thunderstorms. Effects across the archipelago are unknown. Warm and humid southerly flow associated with the circulation of Sally brought scattered showers and thunderstorms to western and central areas of Cuba on September 12–13.

Cooler temperatures spread across Tennessee as the storm moved away from the state. In Maryland, the heaviest precipitation was concentrated in the lower east shore, reaching 3.08 in in Toddville. According to the New Jersey State Climatologist, Sally's remnants dropped 0.74 in of rain and caused wind gusts up to 35 mph in the state.

Aftermath

 * FEMA search page
 * USGS
 * U.S. Department of Energy
 * Costliest to not be retired

Florida
Florida governor Ron DeSantis requested an expedited disaster declaration on September 18, and five days later, President Trump declared 14 counties in northwest Florida as disaster areas. Jeffrey L. Coleman coordinated the federal disaster response. The order made the counties eligible for public assistance, which included funding for emergency cleanup and repairing public facilities. In five counties where damage was heaviest, individuals were able to receive emergency assistance. On October 3, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) opened five Mobile Registration Intake Centers to provide resources and staff to residents affected by the hurricane. Over the next ten days, the agency opened up three more locations. By six months after Sally's landfall, FEMA approved $269.2 million in emergency funds. Nearly half was related to insurance payments from the National Flood Insurance Program, of which there were 4,758 claims. The Small Business Administration approved 2,141 low-interest disaster loans, totaling $84 million. FEMA appropriated $36.3 million toward individual assistance related to housing and rental costs. In August 2021, FEMA approved about $12 million in reimbursement to the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM), related to the costs for emergency personnel, vehicles, generators, and supplies.

Flooding isolated hundreds of people in the Florida Panhandle. Federal and state workers assisted in rescue missions. Along the Blackwater River, more than 27 people and five animals were rescued. State officials advised that storm-stricken farmers with crop insurance to apply for assistance with the USDA. Florida's Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement sent two high water vehicles to help transport large


 * FEMA
 * Gulf Power restoration costs
 * Shorebirds thriving
 * Dislocated worker grant November
 * Pollution/salvage operations
 * Oil spill
 * Oil washing ashore September 28
 * Removing boats
 * Santa Rosa Sep 19
 * Escambia debris removal December
 * 503 boats, >100 polluting


 * Beaches still closed April 2021
 * Gulf Islands damage assessment

Though undermined by erosion, the Bob Sikes Bridge remained open after the storm albeit with southbound lanes closed. Access was restricted to residents and commercial trucks. The bridge was expected to fully reopen in October.

Pensacola Bay Bridge
Immediately following the impact from the first barge on September 15, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) closed the Pensacola Bay Bridge and expected it to remain closed for at least a month. FDOT established alternate routes along Garcon Point Bridge and State Road 87, though extensive traffic jams were expected. The $5 toll each way was suspended through October 23. Ferries were planned for alternate transportation between Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, and Pensacola Beach for "a period of months, if not a year". The docks identified for usage were damaged during the storm but could be quickly repaired. The shutdown of the bridge cut through-traffic in Gulf Breeze, causing a significant drop in business.

The bridge was owned by Skanska and responsibility to retrieve the dislodged barges was on the company.

Costs to demolish and replace the destroyed fishing pier along the bridge reached $27.9 million. The county did not have insurance on the bridge and negotiations with Skanska were planned for payment.


 * No help for affected businesses


 * additional damage delayed repairs in March 2021
 * bridge reopened in June 2021


 * Pensacola Bay Bridge assessment
 * FDOT Pensacola Bay Bridge main page
 * 1,000 claimants
 * Skanksa did not properly prepare
 * Escambia County settlement
 * Skanska destroyed evidence

Alabama
Alabama governor Kay Ivey requested an expedited disaster declaration on September 17 for three southern Alabama counties and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, which President Trump approved three days later. The order made the counties eligible for public assistance, which included funding for emergency cleanup and repairing public facilities. In three counties where damage was heaviest, individuals were able to receive emergency assistance. By two months after the hurricane, FEMA approved more than $260 million in grants and loans to the state. This included $109.8 million in SBA disaster loans, nearly $77 million in housing and rental assistance, and $74.2 million related to the National Flood Insurance Program.

About 1,400 workers from 14 states assisted Alabama Power with restoring service. By September 20, 99 percent of lost service was restored.


 * FEMA
 * Alabama Farmers Federation
 * Changing power grid?
 * Curfews
 * October 19 FEMA info
 * FEMA deadline
 * "Sally Stumping"
 * SBA recovery center
 * Prichard food distribution
 * Riviera Utilities September 24
 * Coastal Cleanup modification
 * Prodisee Pantry grocery assistance
 * Escambia food/water distribution
 * Gov Ivey "heartbreaking"
 * Sewer overflows


 * Mobile
 * start of debris removal
 * Debris removal for Sally and Zeta in Fairhope
 * School re-openings
 * Wave Transit
 * Debris removal for Zeta
 * Dauphin Island reopening


 * Baldwin
 * Debris removal for Zeta
 * final debris pickup in November
 * no make-up days for schools
 * FEMA owes $130 million April 2021
 * Six months later
 * Cleanup cost

Elsewhere
Georgia Power worked to quickly restore service across the state; 95 percent of outages were fixed by the night of September 18.
 * Red Cross