News Release

National Seashore Closing for Tropical Storm Ida

Date: August 26, 2021
Contact: Stephenie Wade

GULF BREEZE, Fla. -- Gulf Islands National Seashore is preparing to close in response to Tropical Storm Idas approaching the Gulf of Mexico.

The Davis Bayou Area in Mississippi, and Opal Beach, Perdido Key, Okaloosa, and Fort Pickens Areas in Florida will be closed for day use beginning August 27 at 8:00 p.m. The areas will remain closed until further notice. All other areas will remain open for day use.

A mandatory evacuation of the Fort Pickens and Davis Bayou campgrounds began August 26, with all campers expected to leave by 6:00 p.m., August 27. All campground reservations will be postponed or cancelled until further notice.

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 and water onto roads, making it unsafe for travel.

Park staff will continue to assess conditions throughout the weekend and will reevaluate all park areas Sunday, August 29 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.