I just got an update from Ft. Morgan, AL (west of Gulf Shores). Surf is at about 10 ft and the water has already started coming under the first tier houses. Dauphin Island, it is said, is a mad house of pople trying to make the last minute preps. Locals down in Mobile and the coast remember the bullet they dodged from Ivan and are preparing for that possible last minute eastern jog from the storm. It seems that everyone on that side are taking things seriously.
Mobile Bay is on the dirty side of this giant storm. The bay is going to have a lot of water shoved up into it.