News Release

Everglades National Park Closes for Hurricane Dorian, Dry Tortugas Remains Open for Now

Date: August 30, 2019
Contact: Media Inquiries, 305-242-7714
Contact: General Park Information, 305-242-7700

HOMESTEAD, Fla - On Friday, Aug. 30, Everglades National Park will close park entrances and visitor facilities at 4 p.m. in preparation for the landfall of Hurricane Dorian. Park concession-operated boat tours, services and rentals at Flamingo and Everglades City as well as Shark Valley Tram Tours will also cease operations on Friday afternoon.

Park airboat concessioners Coopertown, and Everglades Safari Park will remain open until 3 p.m. on Aug. 31. Gator Park is closing at the end of the day on Aug. 30.  

Marine waters will remain open for boating, but emergency services will be extremely limited after Friday.

No backcountry passes will be issued until further notice.  

Vessels may seek safe harbor in the area of Ponce De Leon Bay, the Little Shark River between marker 1 and marker 69, and the main tributary of the Shark River. The Flamingo Marina will be closed. Chickees are also closed and vessels are not permitted to tie off to chickees.

All closures will remain in place until severe weather passes and the National Park Service makes a determination that employee and visitor facilities are safe. Updates will be posted as an alert on the park’s website.

Dry Tortugas National Park remains open. Ferry and seaplane tours will continue taking visitors to the islands as weather permits. There is no overnight camping.

In the event the storm track changes, the National Park Service may issue a new advisory with updated status.
 

For more information about Everglades National Park visit nps.gov/ever or follow the park on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. #EvergladesNationalPark 

For more information about Dry Tortugas National Park visit nps.gov/drto or follow the park on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. #DryTortugasNationalPark
 

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