The Alabama Gulf Coast suffered a direct hit from a catagory 4 hurricane named Ivan in the early hours of the morning on Sep 16. Ivan brought high winds, surge, and waves to bear on areas from the eastern tip of Louisiana to middle of the Florida pan handle. Areas from Gulf Shores Alabama to Pensacola Beach Florida suffered the most damage. Many homes and businesses were either destroyed or flooded during Ivan's landfall. Tornados and flooding were felt later as the storm progressed into Alabama's interior.

  Riviera Utilities, as well as other Utility organizations in Ivan's damage path suffered catastrophic Electrical, gas, and cable damages. Although crews began work as soon as weather permitted on September 16, many Riviera Utilities customers found themselves without power for weeks. Gas utility crews waded through sand drifts to dig out and repair metering and station assemblies buried deep in customers yards by sands washed from the beaches. Many of these houses and businesses were far too damaged to provide service in the near future. Riviera's water system, sustaining minimal damage, provided water to other utilities that were damaged or offline.

  Shortly after Riviera Utilities crews went to work to restore power other contract and utility companies from all over the US offered to help restore power in this area. Some were very well known companies such as Asplunda from Covington louisiana, Auston Energy from Alston Texas, and Red Simpson from Alexandria louisiana. Others included Ryland's Underground Services, Pikes Electric from Mt. Airy, North Carolina, and LUS or Lafayette Utilities. Riviera Utilities would like to extend a thank you to all of the crews, business owners, emergency response, and the National Guard that have helped us and our community recover from this ordeal.

  Below are some pictures taken during the surveying and cleanup efforts in Ivan's aftermath. They are arranged in galleries of thumbnails for easy viewing and downloading. Selecting any thumbnail will give you a blowup of that picture.