HURRICANES
HURRICANES
Hurricane Recovery Efforts Debris covered the interior of Fort Massachusetts after Hurricane Katrina.
Fort Pickens Road and J. Earle Bowden Way (SR 399) remain closed in Florida..
ALERT: In 2005 severe storms including Hurricanes Katrina, Dennis, and Rita plus Tropical Storms Arlene and Cindy devastated the Seashore. Hurricane Katrina's high 30-foot storm surge washed many of the facilities on West Ship Island out to sea. The Florida District, slammed by high winds and waves by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, received additional damages. Except for the Davis Bayou Area in Ocean Springs, MS and East Ship Island which is open daily, all of the Mississippi offshore barrier islands are closed. The waters within the Seashore's boundary are open. In Florida the Fort Pickens Road and J. Earle Bowden Way (SR 399) remain closed. There is no estimated opening date for the Fort Pickens Campground in Florida or the Davis Bayou Campground in Mississippi. Long-term recovery efforts are underway in both districts. Sections of the Seashore are open for day use: Florida-- Fort Barrancas and Advanced Redoubt on board Pensacola Naval Air station, Naval Live Oaks in Gulf Breeze, Perdido Key on the west side of Pensacola, and the Okaloosa Day Use Area. Mississippi--Davis Bayou Area and East Ship Island.
MISSISSIPPI DISTRICT: Due to devastation from Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, all areas received damage and some facilities were destroyed. A temporary visitor contact station will open to the public in mid- November, 2005. Trails, picnic areas, and a boat launch are open to the public. For information call 228-875-0074. Davis Bayou Visitor Center after Hurricane Katrina
FLORIDA DISTRICT:
PERDIDO KEY: Perdido Key is open to vehicular traffic from 7:00 am to sunset. The fees are $8.00 per private vehicle and $3.00 for pedestrians and bicyclists. Restrooms and outdoor showers are available. Visitors are asked to stay out of the demarcated construction areas for their safety. It is important to bring sunscreen, cold water, and umbrellas for shade and protection from the sun. Also, due to scattered debris, visitors should wear shoes for their protection. All pavilions were destroyed from Hurricane Ivan but some shade is available. New beach pavilions, a nature trail, beach crossovers, a parking lot and an entrance station will be replaced and reconstructed. On August 23, 2005 the first phase of the Perdido Key Road reconstruction began that includes replacing sand fencing, delineating walkways from the road to the beach, removing sand and hardening of those road areas that were destroyed. The Perdido Key Area is habitat for the endangered Perdido Key beach mouse.
FORT BARRANCAS: Fort Barrancas has now reopened daily from 8:30 am -3:45 pm. Come enjoy a ranger-led tour of this historic fort with a breathtaking view of the coastline daily at 2 pm.
NAVAL LIVE OAKS: The Naval Live Oaks area has now reopened daily from 8:30 am-4:30 pm. Trails, picnic areas, and the group camp area are open. call 850-934-2600 for details.
FORT PICKENS/SANTA ROSA ISLAND: Access to the area is by boat or foot and visitors may access the beaches east of the Campground Registration/Ranger Station. Road construction areas and the developed area west of the station remain closed. The Florida Department of Transportation will be responsible for rebuilding sections of the Fort Pickens Road. The road was relocated north of the previous site due to the erosion of the south side of the island. Further road damage occurred as result of Tropical Arlene's storm surge. The park will work with contractors to remove hundreds of dead trees. Historic Fort Pickens, which has been standing since 1834, held its ground during the hurricane with only minor damage. Lead roofing was placed over the sallyport and sink holes filled in along the parade ground. There is increased erosion around the casemates and the tower bastion will be buttressed by sand. The Fort Pickens Visitor Center and popular Firehouse concession area were rehabilitated. Natural Resource Management: The hurricanes have flattened most of dunes. Unfortunately, Hurricane Dennis washed away a number of black skimmer and least tern nests. Sea turtle nests were also adversely impacted by the storm surge of Hurricane Dennis. Numerous brown pelicans and alligators were killed by Hurricane Katrina's 30-foot storm surge in Mississippi. The park is conducting natural resource management assessments to determine the extent of damages caused by the series of storms. SANTA ROSA: Access to the area is by boat only. The development at Opal Beach remains closed to visitation because of the extensive damage to picnic clusters. Road construction areas remain closed. Damaged structures were secured with fencing materials. The Florida Department of Transportation repaired Route 399 (J. Earle Bowden Road) and the multi-use path but the storm surge caused by Hurricane Dennis on July 10, 2005 damaged newly paved sections. Plans are being prepared to repair the road that connects Navarre to Pensacola Beach. It is not known at this time when road rebuilding will occur. OKALOOSA AREA: This day use area is open to the public. Reconstruction of the restrooms are complete. Visitors can enjoy the widened beach, which is the result of the Corps of Engineers emergency dredge project. Hurricane Ivan created shoaling in the Intercoastal Waterway through Choctawhatchee Bay which was a safety hazard for commercial navigation. Approximately 30,000 cubic yards of beach quality sand was placed on the Okaloosa area beach. Pictures of the Fort Pickens Area
The Seashore has received numerous calls from people outside the immediate area, anxious to camp or visit the Florida District. Some areas cannot be reopened until major repair work is accomplished. Over 250 additional personnel and contractors have assisted the Seashore staff to remove debris, stabilize facilities, and protect resources including museum objects.
For additional information about the causes of hurricanes, please go to www.noaa.gov.
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Last Updated: 3/7/06
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