Contact: General Park Information, 305-242-7700 Contact: Media Inquiries Only, 305-242-7714
Homestead, FL: Everglades National Park is preparing to close from as early as Tuesday evening, October 4, should conditions warrant due to Hurricane Matthew, and remain closed until after the storm passes. Dry Tortugas National Park is expected to be out of the path of the storm, and to remain open. Visitors to Everglades National Park should check the weather and the park's website before visiting, and exercise caution on roadways inside and leading to the park pending any closure. Severe thunderstorms and tropical storm force winds are possible even if Matthew stays off shore. Beginning today, no backcountry permits are being issued and the park's backcountry is closed to campers. The Flamingo campground will close Tuesday morning, October 4. In order to protect visitors, government property and visitor facilities spread across a large geographic area, Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks begin pre-cautionary preparations 72 hours before any predicted landfall. While this hurricane is currently predicted to remain offshore, past experience with shifting storm tracks necessitates the parks exercise caution, and take a conservative approach to planning and preparations. The parks will continue to monitor the storm and adapt plans as needed. Updates will continue to be available on the parks' websites and social media channels. Everglades National Park - www.nps.gov/ever - click on Alerts Dry Tortugas National Park - www.nps.gov/drto - click on Alerts -NPS- |
Last updated: October 3, 2016