News Release

NPS Incident Management Team Hurricane Update for South Florida and the Atlantic Coast, Tuesday, October 10, 2017

The Anhinga Trail is open again at Everglades National Park after Hurricane Irma

NPS photo

News Release Date: October 10, 2017

Contact: Murray Shoemaker, 435-260-2422

Contact: Sandy Snell-Dobert, 970-481-5835

Incident information

Photos of Hurricane Irma damage and response

Homestead, Fla. – For the past month, crews from many National Park Service areas have worked on incident management teams side by side with the staffs of the parks, preserves, monuments and seashores of Florida and the coastal Atlantic parks as they recovered from the impacts of Hurricane Irma. The resiliency of the local park employees who have continued to work despite personal hardship has confirmed the faith of NPS employees from across the country that the parks community is a family and that it is strong. America’s national treasures are in good hands. The NPS is grateful to the many Americans who have expressed their concern and support. As facilities and trails continue to open, the NPS is extending a hearty welcome back!

The public is reminded that some areas within the parks remain closed to all use, including motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, due to safety concerns during cleanup operations. As these areas reopen, please be alert for water on roads, particularly during heavy rains. Debris may still wash onto roads and trails.

This will be the final update from the Intermountain Incident Management Team. Information about the ongoing recovery effort in the parks can be found via each park’s website below.
 

News from the field – October 10:

South Florida National Parks

Big Cypress National Preserve – PARTIALLY OPEN

• Big Cypress National Preserve’s Oasis Visitor Center is open 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
• Midway, Monument, and Burns Lake Campgrounds are open.
• The Swamp Welcome Center remains closed at this time. Repairs are underway.
• The Stairsteps Unit of Big Cypress National Preserve remains closed to all recreational access, including hunting, until water levels go down. Other backcountry areas are open.
• Visitors to the preserve should expect conditions to include high water levels, downed trees, and ongoing restoration efforts. Recreational users should be prepared to turn around.
• Landowners may continue to access private property and should expect downed trees along trails.
• The Loop Road is closed.

Information Contact: Ardrianna McLane at 239-695-1107 or e-mail us
 

Everglades National Park – PARTIALLY OPEN

• The Homestead visitor entrance is open to Flamingo. There are no facilities available at this time. Portable rest rooms are available. Boats may now be launched at the Flamingo ramps. Night closures will remain in place. The roadway is open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Nighttime closure is at West Lake. Gas and food services are not available.
• Utility crews continue to stabilize water treatment facilities in Flamingo.
• Construction crews continue to stabilize facilities in Flamingo.
• Saw crews are removing damaged limbs and trees from Flamingo campground.
• Large park signs along the main road are being reinstalled.
• Park boat operators continue marking underwater debris navigation hazards and displaced vessels in park waters.
• Shark Valley remains closed due to high water and the area will be monitored for future mitigations if needed to protect infrastructure. This is the highest water the park has seen in 86 years.
• Gulf Coast facilities remain closed until further notice.

Information Contact: Denese Canedo at 305-242-7714 or e-mail us

Atlantic Coast National Parks

Cumberland Island National Seashore (Ga.) – PARTIALLY OPEN (Museum only)

• The Cumberland Island Mainland Museum is open. The visitor center is closed.
• Arborist crews have completed their work and are moving to Fort Matanzas.
• Camping reservations are cancelled through November 1.
• The managed hunt that was scheduled for October 28^th and 29^th is cancelled.

Information Contact: Jill Hamilton-Anderson; 912-882-4336, ext. 257 or e-mail us

Fort Matanzas National Monument (Fla.) – PARTIALLY OPEN

• The Visitor Center area remains closed pending removal of hazard limbs and trees.
• Beach and Island areas of the park are open to the public.
• The fort will remain inaccessible to the public until repairs to dock and ferry boats can be completed.

Fort Pulaski National Monument (Ga.) – OPEN

• The Visitor Center and Museum are currently open.
• The park’s water system is not operating in the historic area of the park. Water is not available in and around Fort Pulaski and the visitor center comfort station is closed. Portable restrooms are available.

For updates on the status of all parks visit http://go.nps.gov/hurricane.

~NPS~