MEDIA CONTACT:
Susan Teel
susan_teel@nps.gov
850-934-2618
The Fort Pickens Area of Gulf Islands National Seashore will close today, Feb. 3 at 4 p.m., due to weather conditions anticipated to cause the Fort Pickens Road to become impassable due to sand and flooding. Staff consulted the park’s severe weather action plan, which indicates road closure when triggers are met for a combination of predicted high tides, wind direction and strength, and surf heights documented to cause the road to become covered with sand and significant flooding to occur. Campers currently in the campground are advised to remain in place today and tonight until the staff performs the morning assessment tomorrow. All campground reservations for Fort Pickens with arrivals after 4pm today will be cancelled and credited. Park staff will continue to assess conditions for a potential reopening tomorrow Friday, Feb. 4.
“Yesterday and overnight, the park accumulated several inches of rain and sand on the road, and the current weather forecast predicts more rain overnight” said Superintendent Darrell Echols. “The reopening is dependent upon the rain stopping, water receding, and our ability to remove sand from the road.”
There is currently sand and standing water in some areas along Fort Pickens Road.
“Our priority at Gulf Islands is to ensure the safest environment possible for park visitors and staff. The park will announce changes as appropriate, but current conditions do not allow for remaining open at this time.”
For more information, please follow the parks social media accounts and website.
www.nps.gov
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.
