News Release

National Seashore Closing for Severe Weather

Date: June 18, 2021
Contact: Stephenie Wade, 850-393-7952

GULF BREEZE, Fla. -- Gulf Islands National Seashore will close beginning June 18, due to the tropical storm approaching the Northwest Florida area.

Closed areas include the Fort Pickens Area, Santa Rosa Area, Perdido Key Area and Okaloosa Area in Florida, and the Davis Bayou Area and barrier islands in Mississippi. J. Earle Bowden Way, Highway 399 will remain open. Please be cautious of water and sand on the roadway.

A mandatory evacuation of the Fort Pickens Campground and Davis Bayou Campground began June 18, with all campers and staff expected to leave by 1 p.m. All campground reservations will be postponed or cancelled through Sunday, June 20.

The severe weather is anticipated to cause flooding of roads and campgrounds, dangerous surf conditions, and overwash. High winds and heavy rain fall in combination with high tide can push sand onto roads, making it unsafe for travel.

Park staff will continue to assess conditions throughout the weekend and will reevaluate all park areas Sunday, June 20 for reopening conditions and announce updates as appropriate.

For more information please follow the parks social media accounts and website. 

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/GulfIslands, on Facebook www.facebook.com/GulfIslandsNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/GulfIslandsNPS, and Instagram www.Instagram.com/GulfIslandsNPS.

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.