News Release

Park Areas Close in Florida Ahead of Intense Weather

Date: September 12, 2020
Contact: Susan Teel, 850-934-2618

Gulf Breeze, FL. – Gulf Islands National Seashore announces that the Fort Pickens, Perdido Key/Johnson Beach, Santa Rosa/Opal Beach, and Okaloosa Areas in Florida will close on Saturday, September 12, at 5:00 pm ahead of the approaching storm. A mandatory evacuation of the Fort Pickens campground will occur Sunday September 13, with all campers expected to leave the area by 9:00 am. The anticipated intense winds, rough seas, and heavy rain will impact these areas and are expected to cause flooding of roads and coastal areas. Current predications indicate that the park may be affected by these storms. Closed areas include the Fort Pickens Area, Perdido Key Area including Johnson Beach, Opal Beach Area, and Okaloosa Area.  

These Florida areas will remain closed until further notice.  The Fort Barrancas area remains closed due to closures of the NAS Pensacola. 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.”  Highway 399, J. Earle Bowden Way, and the Naval Live Oaks day use areas, will remain open until further notice.   

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-