After Hurricane Isaias: Alabama’s Beaches Reopen to Visitors, Pensacola Beach Lodging Still Has No Return Date

October 11, 2026 — Two days after Hurricane Isaias came ashore near Destin, Florida, the Gulf Coast’s beach lodging is reopening unevenly. Alabama has lifted its evacuation order and Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are taking visitors again, while Pensacola Beach rentals have no reopening date and Okaloosa Island evacuees were still waiting for an all-clear on Saturday.

Isaias made landfall at about 9:30 p.m. Eastern on Friday, October 9, as a Category 2 hurricane with winds near 105 mph, according to FOX Weather and CBS12. It weakened to a post-tropical system over Alabama by early Saturday. AccuWeather, citing the Associated Press, reports at least four deaths in Florida and Alabama.

The damage is heaviest in the western Florida Panhandle. AccuWeather’s live coverage describes roofs torn off homes and businesses on Pensacola Beach, damaged hotels and heavy damage to one coastal high-rise. Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism says Alabama’s beaches came through with very minimal damage.

Where things stand

Area	Lodging and access	Source and time
Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan, Alabama	State evacuation order for visitors lifted; all bridges open and curfews ended. Visitors may return but should confirm with their lodging first.	Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, October 10, 1:00 p.m.
Brett/Robinson vacation rentals, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach	Closed through Sunday, October 11. Check-ins resume Monday, October 12. Unused nights refunded in full.	Brett/Robinson, October 10
Pensacola Beach, Florida	Bob Sikes Bridge open, but officials ask people to travel only if necessary. Premier Island Management has cancelled arrivals through October 11 and has not announced a reopening date.	AccuWeather, October 11; Premier Island, October 10
Okaloosa Island and Fort Walton Beach, Florida	Evacuees told to wait for an official all-clear. Water and sewer service on Okaloosa Island was shut off as of Saturday morning. Return date TBA.	WUWF, October 10
Panama City Beach, Florida	Storm warnings discontinued; crews clearing debris. Double-red flags and a high rip current risk through late Sunday, October 11.	Pineapple Willy’s visitor update, October 10, 2:50 p.m.

What is still affecting stays

Power. AccuWeather reported nearly 360,000 Florida customers still without power late Saturday, about 116,000 of them in Escambia County. Florida Power & Light is aiming to restore 95% of its customers by the end of Monday, October 12, according to FOX Weather.
Water. Emerald Coast Utilities Authority customers in the Pensacola area are under a systemwide boil-water notice, the City of Pensacola said on Sunday morning.
The Gulf. Double-red flags are flying on all of Alabama’s beaches and across Bay County, Florida, which means the water is closed to swimmers.
State parks. At least 35 Florida state parks and their overnight accommodations closed for the storm, FOX Weather reports. Reopening dates are TBA.
Events. The Annual National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores has been cancelled.

No major branded resort in the region had published a storm closure or reopening date in the sources checked today. Alabama’s proclamation ending the evacuation said that “conditions warranting a compelled evacuation no longer exist.”

What it means for airline travelers

The airports are open again, with thin schedules. Pensacola (PNS) resumed scheduled commercial service on Sunday, October 11, and the city says flight schedules will return to normal slowly. Destin-Fort Walton Beach (VPS) reopened on Saturday, October 10, with schedule changes. Northwest Florida Beaches (ECP) reopened to commercial traffic on Saturday. Gulf Shores (JKA) is open with no apparent damage.
Standby will be tight for a few days. Cancelled passengers are being rebooked onto a reduced schedule at PNS and VPS. Check loads and your airline’s status page before listing.
Call the property before you travel. Every tourism office and rental manager quoted here says the same thing: confirm that your hotel or condo has power, water and staff before you set out.
Alabama is the safer bet this week. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach report minimal damage and a firm Monday restart for the largest rental manager. Pensacola Beach and Okaloosa Island have no dates yet.
Refunds depend on who you booked with. Brett/Robinson and Premier Island are refunding direct bookings for the closure dates. Third-party and owner bookings go back to the seller. None of the sources mention travel-industry or airline-employee rates.
Do not plan on swimming. Rip current warnings and closed water run at least through Sunday night, and Alabama tourism officials say surf may stay rough for a few days.