BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Hurricane Gustav’s westward nudge hours before landfall mitigated extensive damage in Baldwin County which amounted to a few downed trees and spot flooding in low-lying areas.

While county leaders continue to assess damages, preliminary reports indicated most calls concerned flood waters in Central Baldwin, according to county engineer Cal Markert.

The county’s highway department received 40 calls from the effects of Gustav. Lehman Road near Summerdale was the only washed-out roadway, County Road 48 was temporarily closed at Fish River, County Road 32 east of Greeno Road was reopened Tuesday morning and sand removal assessments were being conducted late Tuesday on Fort Morgan Road, Markert said.

“There was no major destruction,” Markert told the Baldwin County Commission Tuesday. “We mostly had flash flooding and there was some damage to small drains.”

The Commission on Tuesday agreed to let Markert decide if sand removal contractor Waterfront Construction Inc. would be hired to sift or remove sand from county rights of way on the Fort Morgan Peninsula.

Markert said the area still was being evaluated and that county crews and equipment may be able to complete the job.

The Baldwin County Coliseum shelter in Robertsdale housed 258 storm evacuees and one special needs person in the first use of the facility as a storm shelter.

The facility closed Monday, but was kept on standby due to a series of tornadoes spawned by Gustav.

The Faulkner State Community College Red Cross shelter housed 115, according to county personnel.

Orange Beach officials reported water over several roadways, but no major problems. All city facilities were open Tuesday.