During a news briefing at shipbuilder Austal USA in Mobile, Riley urged Alabama residents to take the threat seriously and to follow the direction of local emergency managers for storm preparation. "Based on the latest information I have seen, Alabama lies directly in the path of Tropical Storm Ida ... We've weathered storms before and Alabamians have proven we know how to respond. Though it may not have the force of some of the storms we have dealt with in the past, we cannot afford to take Tropical Storm Ida lightly. The storm surge on the coast and flooding inland pose major threats which we all must take very seriously." The Alabama Emergency Management Agency has been directed to make appropriate assessments of damages and seek the necessary state and federal assistance for the affected areas, if necessary. Full Article at Everything Alabama