Island Residents Wait To Go Home

High water from Hurricane Ike forced the Dauphin Island Bridge to be closed for most of the day Thursday.
Even when the bridge re-opened late in the afternoon, water sprayed onto Alabama Highway 193.
Tim Neilsen found a chance about 6 pm to check on his boat.
When asked if he found any damage, Neilsen said, "One of docks got busted up. One guy sunk down there. He's having a rough day, I guess."
Water also covered the shell road in Bayfront Park early Thursday evening.
State transportation workers escorted motorists to and from the island starting at about 5 in the afternoon, but for most of the day the Dauphin Island Bridge was closed to traffic.
Taylor Gore is a student at Bryant High School and lives on the island.
Her plans for leaving school in the afternoon changed quickly.
Gore said, "We went out to the bus, then they told us that they weren't going to let us leave, because none of the parents can get over the bridge because of the water. So, I called my friend Tori to come get me and bring me to Alabama Port where my step-daddy is."
Other people gathered at the intersection of Alabama Highways 193 and 188 late in the afternoon, waiting patiently.
Jim Hartman lives on Dauphin Island.
When News Five talked to him about 4 pm, he said he had been waiting for about an hour to get back to the island.
He said, "I went over this morning and came back before they set up the station (the police checkpoint) here. This is the first time I've tried to get back over."
Dauphin Island Elementary School will remain closed Friday.
Alma Bryant High School students and Alba Middle School students who live on Dauphin Island and can't make it to class will receive an excused absence.