Sally is now officially a hurricane and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has issued a state of emergency for the state’s Gulf Coast in anticipation of storm surge and coastal flooding.

Hurricane Sally is churning in the Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center said the storm had maximum sustained winds of 90 miles per hour at 11:30, making it a Category 1 hurricane. Should it reach 96 miles per hour, Sally would become a Category 2 storm. A hurricane warning has been extended to include the entire Alabama Gulf Coast.

Ivey’s proclamation enacts the Alabama Emergency Operations Plan and activates the Alabama Emergency Management Agency to be prepared to respond.

“We pray that Sally doesn’t do any harm, but we must be prepared just in case,” Ivey said in a video message released on social media.

Earlier today, I issued a State of Emergency for the approaching storm. We pray that #Sally doesn’t do any harm, but we must be prepared just in case. Be safe, Alabama. #alwx #alpolitics @AlabamaEMA

SOE: https://t.co/MDvWGsr1eE pic.twitter.com/oAoLEZ7oUT

— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) September 14, 2020