Some escape storm damage in Gulf Shores

GULF SHORES, Ala. (WALA) - Gulf Shores Beaches were open for business on Sunday even though earlier in the week, Isaac's winds howled, throwing heavy surf onto the South Alabama coastline.

Isaac threatened area beaches and forced some businesses to close.

“It was actually our first hurricane since we've been down here and we were actually really nervous, we were packing up and getting ready to evacuate,” said Savanna Borgos who hails from New York.

Although Hurricane Isaac mostly grazed Baldwin County, residual signs of his brief visit are left. Bruster’s Ice Cream shop was boarded up Wednesday, its metal sign post sheared at its base, presumably from the storm’s winds.

Sunday, a crowd gathered at Bruster’s take-out window, while others sat on red-painted picnic tables eating cones and sundaes.

It’s a dramatic comparison to the scene as Isaac’s wide-ranging storm bands ambled over the area: a calm breeze, sunny skies.

Beachgoers were back to playing, while lifeguards kept watch.

“We're coming to the beach today, we're figuring tomorrow will be pretty packed so we're going to stay at home, have a BBQ and enjoy the weather,” Borgos said.

Sunday's weather pushed into the nineties, welcoming locals, tourists and vacationers.

“We're from New Orleans but we're in Gulf Shores as part of a hurrication,” said Katie Rambeau, coining the term for a hurricane vacation.

Rambeau and her family left New Orleans Monday to escape Isaac and take their annual family vacation.

“We just got power back just a couple of hours ago,” said Rambeau, “We had some minor wind damage and some minor flooding too.”

Sunday was the last hurrah for the Rambeau's before the reality of routine sets back in. Monday, she said, they plan to empty the refrigerator, tear out waterlogged carpeting, and get the kids to school.