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Date: October 30, 2007

As Tropical Storm Noel approaches southeast Florida, Biscayne National Park has instituted a shutdown in accordance with its Hurricane Plan.

Effective 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 30, 2007, all park facilities (including those on Boca Chita, Elliott and Adams Keys) and the mainland area at Convoy Point (9 miles east of Homestead), boat tours, and visitor services are closed to the public. The Park waters will remain open for vessel transit. The closure will remain in effect until further notice.

After suffering severe damage in the 1992's Hurricane Andrew, the park implemented a detailed plan for adequately protecting life and property, while at the same time taking into account employee's needs to prepare their own homes and families. The plan is updated annually and has been fine-tuned at every approaching storm, and currently calls for preparations to begin well before potential landfall. These preparations include not only securing and shuttering buildings, but also removing the park's entire fleet of boats (over 20 vessels) to an inland location.