BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WPMI) Rain may be the only thing getting more talk than Mardi Gras lately. Officials are making plans for the expected rain during their Fat Tuesday festivities.
Gulf Shores is set to roll at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The 2 p.m. parade in Orange Beach could roll early, but it all depends on severe weather.
"They've already told us if it's bad they'll shut us down. Whatever they decide, we'll go with it you know because you got to go with the safety of the people and everything," said Ron Hitch, who along with the crew from the Gulf Breeze RV Park in Gulf Shores plan to parade rain or shine.
The crew plans to parade first in Tuesday morning in Gulf shores and then in the afternoon at the Orange Beach festivities.
"We're going rain or shine. Ten o'clock in the morning, Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Association has confirmed with us at 10:00 start rain or shine," said Grant Brown with the City of Gulf Shores.
"You want to number one protect the spectators safety. Secondly you want to protect the assets that the crews have and example the float behind us we've got somewhere between 10 and $30,000 for that one float," said Ken Grimes with the City of Orange Beach.
It's the tale of two cities and with the worst of the weather forecast after 1 p.m. Tuesday, Orange Beach will take a closer look at the weather in the morning.
"As of now we expect heavy rains by noon continuing through the afternoon with a possibility of lightening. So our concern is trying to be prepared so our goal is to let everyone know at 9 a.m. in the morning when we get that 7 a.m. briefing from the National Weather Service," said Grimes.
With close more than 40 floats, marching bands and close to 10,000 people safety is priority.
"Our biggest threat less tornado or high winds is lightening," said Brown.
If parades are canceled there will be no make up dates.
