News Release

Most Mississippi Areas and Islands Open Following Storm

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Date: September 24, 2020
Contact: Brent Everitt, 850-934-2600

Ocean Springs, Miss. – The National Park Service has completed storm damage assessments on Petit Bois, West Petit Bois, and Horn islands, as well as the NPS-owned portion of Cat Island. These islands will reopen to the public immediately. Due to observed damage on Ship Island, additional assessments and stabilization actions need to be taken before the island can resume operations.

The National Park Service has mobilized the Eastern Incident Management Team to Gulf Islands National Seashore in response to the effects of Hurricane Sally. Responders began arriving at the park on Monday and immediately set to work addressing critical needs to assess damage, stabilize facilities, and begin the process or restoring visitor access. A total of 38 National Park Service employees from 22 parks and programs have responded to the national seashore to assist in these efforts.

On Saturday, September 12, the National Park Service (NPS) closed all areas and islands of Gulf Islands National Seashore in advance of Hurricane Sally impacting the Gulf Coast. Following damage assessments and minor debris removal, the Davis Bayou Area reopened on September 18, followed closely by the campground on September 21, under COVID-19 Adaptive Recovery Phase II operations on for visitors to enjoy.

Updates on ongoing response and stabilization efforts are available online at www.nps.gov/GulfIslands, www.Facebook.com/GulfIslandsNPS, and www.Twitter.com/GulfIslandsNPS.

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/GulfIslandsNPS, and Instagram www.Instagram.com/GulfIslandsNPS.  

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice and Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice.  

~NPS~



Last updated: September 24, 2020

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