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Date: November 9, 2009
Contact: Clay Jordan, 850-934-2615
Contact: Gail Bishop, 850-934-2618

Gulf Islands National Seashore Seashore Closures Due to Tropical Storm

Due to the approach of Tropical Storm Ida, Gulf Islands National Seashore has closed all locations in Florida: Fort Pickens, Opal Beach, Perdido Key, Naval Live Oaks, Fort Barrancas, and Okaloosa Area and in Mississippi: Davis Bayou Area, Ship, Horn, Cat and Petit Bois Islands to all public use. All visitors currently in the Seashore are being instructed to leave at this time and urged to safeguard their property. Special Note: The J. Earle Bowden Way (Route 399 on Santa Rosa Island in Florida, will remain open unless the road become impassable due to flooding.

When announcing this parkwide closure, Superintendent Jerry Eubanks said that with this system possibly taking aim at the coast, we have to safeguard human life.” The National Park Service has to close down facilities and operations.

Right now, we have to close for the safety of our visitors and employees," Eubanks said. Gulf Islands National Seashore will reopen after the storm has passed and the staff has an opportunity to mitigate any hazards resulting from the storm. For more information on Gulf Islands National Seashore view the website at www.nps.gov/guis.