Hurricane Dennis struck Sunday near the Alabama coast on a path similar to Hurricane Ivan's last September, with violent winds and the threat of tornadoes raised for south Alabama.

One hundred and twenty mile per hour winds pounded ashore in Florida between Pensacola and Navarre Beach, a site to the east of Gulf Shores, where Ivan made landfall.

But the exact point where Dennis roared on shore spared the Alabama beachfront from a direct hit.

Baldwin County emergency management director Leigh Anne Ryals said "we dodged a bullet."

By 6:00 p.m. Sunday, authorities had canceled the curfew in Mobile County. Many regular services, such as the postal service, are scheduled to resume Monday.

Last fall, Ivan tore through towns like Brewton and Atmore, tossing trees and downing powerlines in its wake.