August 4, 2026

The Lost Found Again on Fort Morgan

By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Region News

August 4, 2026

FORT MORGAN, Ala. On the Fort Morgan Peninsula, many come for the beautiful beaches, blue green water, serenity and its quaintness that still somehow escapes the constant traffic heading south on Highway 59.

And with every spring break and each return of summer, the Fort Morgan Volunteer Fire Department and the Baldwin County Sheriff Department’s gear up to respond to water rescues, medical emergencies, and, oh yes, the young and old who sometimes wander away and get reported as missing.

There’s no official word as to how many people go “missing” on Fort Morgan each year, but let’s just say that it’s a regular call for area first responders.

A former volunteer firefighter stated that the missing come in all ages and most of the time, they’re not really missing at all.
But when we hear that it’s a small child that’s suddenly disappeared near the edge of the water, our hearts do start racing, he said.

Of course, each call is handled quickly, and all are taken very seriously.
Depending on who has gone missing and where they were last seen, firefighters and law enforcement could be searching along the beachfront, in the water, or down the street.
Young children can escape their parent’s view very quickly causing panic and older adults with Alzheimer’s Disease or other medical conditions can also seemingly disappear into thin air.

Upon arriving on scene, first responders gather descriptions, ages, clothing type and color, last seen location, medical details and all other relevant information while disseminating the info to others who are already beginning the search.

In recent years besides foot power, drones have been added to search from the sky giving searchers another advantage by covering larger areas quickly.

Sometimes children wander away with a new friend and have even been found playing games with other children not far away. The missing elderly are also quickly found by area first responders within a short time.

Fort Morgan has seen its share of drownings, including a 40-year-old father who tragically drowned in Gulf waters off Fort Morgan while successfully rescuing his struggling 10-year-old son from rough surf during double-red flag conditions.

And of course, we remember Deputy William “Bill” Smith who made the ultimate sacrifice to save two distressed swimmers in the waters off Fort Morgan on June 6, 2021.

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