BAY MINETTE, Alabama — The Baldwin County Commission agreed Tuesday morning to close storm shelters Wednesday at noon and terminate a state of local emergency directive following a recommendation from county Emergency Management Agency director Mitchell Sims, who said a Louisiana landfall would create only tropical storm conditions in the Baldwin County region.

As Mitchell presented the status report, Isaac was elevated to hurricane status. He said feeder bands were unlikely to produce significant wind damage. He said storm surges may reach 8 feet tonight and up to 14 inches of rain which had impacted one Bon Secour roadway by 10 a.m. and Fort Morgan Road.

“We don’t expect Styx River and Fish River to flood, but there may be flooding in low-lying areas,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said 245 people were housed in county shelters at the Robertsdale Coliseum and Daphne East Elementary. Those evacuees will be transported to their homes early Wednesday by the BRATS network, following assessment of flooding and assurance that winds are below 35 mph, a prerequisite for the wind-susceptible buses.

Commissioners said the emergency status could be re-established if conditions worsen and that responders remained on alert.

Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack said regular patrols will be dispatched during the night in flood-prone areas. He also said there are no plans for curfews.

The Commission said Rhodes Inc., a debris removal service, was under contract with the county, and would mobilize at the direction of county engineer Cal Markert to remove sand and storm debris from roadways at no charge.

Public Schools will be closed until Wednesday and current information is available at bcbe.org, rapid notification phone calls and email.

Garbage pickup has not been affected.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Presiding Circuit Court Judge James Reid tied into an audio conference with commissioners and agreed to keep the Baldwin County Courthouse open. All satellite facilitiess will be open Wednesday.