Dauphin Island remembers Hurricane Danny

DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. (WALA) - Fifteen years ago, Hurricane Danny soaked the Gulf Coast. Some said it was the Hurricane that just wouldn’t go away.

On July 19, 1997, Danny eased into Mobile Bay and stalled. If you were on Dauphin Island, you remember it well.

It wasn’t the strongest hurricane. In fact, it was only a category 1 hurricane.

Wilton Barber remembers it well.

“Ive been here for 63 years, I remember a lot of it,” said Barber.

The one thing everyone said, when asked about Danny, is rain.

Stan Alford owns a local shop on the island. He said it was a tough time for business.

“It was terrible business wise, because nobody would get out” said Alford.

Danny stalled over Mobile Bay before slowly drifting north. By the time it moved out, some 37 inches of rain had fallen on the island.

Some remember the rain falling sideways.

“It blew like 40 50 60 knots,” Barber said.

Residents remember the four-way stop at the center of Dauphin Island being covered in 18 inches of rain. In fact, they say the majority of Bienville Blvd. was flooded.

“A lake, a sloppy, marshy lake, 15 years ago,” Alford said.

“Set on your porch and watch the rain go sideways” Barber added.

The rain also caused major flooding on Fish River in Baldwin County.

Believe it or not, Danny actually stayed together as it crossed the southeast and even strengthened when it hit the Atlantic.