Media Contact:

Kay Maghan • Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism
[email protected] • GulfShores.com/Media 
1-800-745-SAND • 251-974-4625 (direct) • 251-752-8448 (cell)

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama, receive little impact from Hurricane Michael and welcomes visitors

GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH, ALA. – As Hurricane Michael left a devastating impact along the Florida panhandle on Wednesday, Oct. 10, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism (GSOBT) has the following area update for guests visiting in the coming days or months.

“We have been in constant communication with both local cities and the county emergency management agency, and we are very thankful to be able to relay to our guests that our beach communities received very little impact from this storm, and we stand ready to welcome guests to our 32 miles of white sand beaches,” said Joanie Flynn, vice president of marketing for GSOBT.

“We look forward to welcoming the numerous families, sporting groups, conventions and visitors who will be staying with us in the coming days,” said Flynn. “During the next few weeks, our beach communities are hosting a multitude of events for travelers looking to keep on summering.”
Upcoming events include:

• 47th Annual National Shrimp Festival – Oct. 12 to 14
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Regional Fly-In – Oct. 26 & 27
• SEC Women’s Soccer Championship – Oct. 28 to Nov. 4
• Hangout Oyster Cook-off – Nov. 2 & 3
• World Food Championships – Nov. 7 to11
• Kaiser Realty by Wyndham Vacation Rentals Coastal Half-Marathon – Nov. 24

Flynn added, “Our thoughts and prayers are with our neighbors along the Florida panhandle who were impacted by this massive storm, as well as those in Georgia and the Carolinas trying to recover from Hurricane Florence. We know first-hand what this type of devastation and recovery is like as our area was severely impacted by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. We encourage the public to please support these communities any way they can.”

The following are ways to assist the people and communities impacted by Hurricane Michael and Hurricane Florence:

• Monetary donations to charity organizations who are equipped to meet the needs of those impacted such as the American Red Cross, as well as food-providing groups such as Operation BBQ Relief and World Central Kitchen, which provide much-needed hot meals to people who have lost so much. Also, the new project CAREonlinas accepts donations specifically for North and South Carolina.
• Working with churches and other organizations to send new clothing, supplies and gift cards to be distributed
• Volunteering with groups who will travel to the area in the coming weeks and months to help clean up and rebuild

For more information on Alabama’s beach destination, visit GulfShores.com and OrangeBeach.com.

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About Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism:

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism serves as the official destination marketing organization for the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in addition to the unincorporated area of Fort Morgan. To learn more about the whole different state of discovery on Alabama’s 32 miles of white-sand beaches, visit either GulfShores.com or OrangeBeach.com. This convention and visitors bureau is an accredited Destination Marketing Organization (2012-2018).