National Park Service Closes Some Lakeshore Areas Due to Storm

Date: October 30, 2012
Contact: Bruce Rowe, 219-395-1609

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE: The National Park Service announced today that it will close the Porter Beach (Wabash Avenue) parking lots and the Mt. Baldy and Central Avenue access points to Lake Michigan on Tuesday, October 30, due to expected lakefront waves and flooding from Hurricane Sandy. The National Park Service's Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk site will remain open, but the beach, breakwater, and riverwalk will be closed.

The National Weather Service has predicted strong northerly winds of 50 to 60 miles per hour on Lake Michigan for a prolonged period from late Monday through Tuesday evening. As a result, waves along the southern shore of the lake are expected to build to heights of 20 to 25 feet creating dangerous conditions and flooding along the shoreline.

Visitors are urged to use caution on park trails and at other shoreline locations due to high winds and the possibility of falling trees and branches.

For more information, contact public information officer Bruce Rowe at 219-395-1609

 www.nps.gov