Alabama’s port city awoke to the sirens of tornado warnings. And flooding in low-lying coastal areas of Mobile County has forced road closings amid heavy rain from the outskirts of Hurricane Gustav.

There was no flooding in downtown Mobile, which was quiet with little traffice Monday morning. But emergency officials closed Dauphin Island Parkway north of Dog River and Shell Belt Road at Coden and the Dauphin Island Bridge due to flooding in south Mobile County.

At the beach resorts in Baldwin County, there was no rain Monday morning, but strong winds swayed light poles and palm trees and blew debris across parking lots.

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley also announced that President Bush has approved his request for disaster assistance in response to Hurricane Gustav.