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Contact: Susan Teel, 850-934-2618
Ocean Springs, MS. – Gulf Islands National Seashore announces the Mississippi islands will close on Saturday, August 22, at 5:00 pm, and the mainland Davis Bayou area will close on Sunday, August 23, at 3:00 pm, in anticipation of intense winds, rough seas, and heavy rain that will impact the these areas and are anticipated to cause flooding of roads and coastal areas associated with the named storms, Marco and Laura. Current predications are for the park to be affected by the eastern sides of these storms, which typically include stronger winds. Closed areas and islands include the Davis Bayou Area, Petit Bois, West Petit Bois, Horn, and Ship islands, as well as the NPS-owned portion of Cat Island.
These Mississippi areas will remain closed until further notice. Superintendent Dan Brown said, "Our number one priority during extreme weather events is to provide for the safety of park visitors and staff, and in this case the most appropriate action is to close these areas.” Some of the mainland areas of the seashore in Florida will remain open.
Park staff will assess conditions once the weather passes and throughout the next few days and announce updates as appropriate.
About Gulf Islands National Seashore: Created in 1971, the national seashore stretches 160 miles along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida and Mississippi, and includes barrier islands, maritime forests, historic forts, bayous, and marine habitat. Visit us at www.nps.gov/guis, on Facebook www.facebook.com/GulfIslandsNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/GulfIslands_NPS, and Instagram www.Instagram.com/GulfIslandsNPS.
-NPS-
Last updated: August 22, 2020