DAUPHIN ISLAND, Alabama (WKRG) -Dauphin Island was one of the hardest hit areas in southern Mobile County during Hurricane Ida, and the mayor says they are still in the early stages of the process. cleaning up, facing flooding and sand on the west end, where most people are still without power.

“This equals if not exceeds what we saw with Sally and Zeta last year,” said Jeff Collier, Mayor of Dauphin Island.

Ida’s powerful storm surge pushed sand and water onto Boulevard Bienville. The utility poles were knocked down and the western end of the island became impassable.

Collier said the recovery would take time.

“I think it’s going to be at least several weeks before we can get things back where you can get back out there without too much problem, so it’s going to take us quite a while,” Collier said.

Dauphin Island gets a lot of visitors, and WKRG spoke to a vacationing sparkler from Oklahoma who chose to cut his trip short.

“I don’t regret coming or even staying,” said Samantha Rye. “I’m glad we did. We still had fun even though everything was closed. We never got to see West End Beach, but that’s okay. We will see it next time.

Most of the impact was concentrated on the western end. A concert planned there for the Labor Day weekend has been moved to the rodeo grounds.

Everything on the island has since reopened in the wake of the storm. The only thing you can’t access is the west end.