GULF BREEZE, Fla. -- Gulf Islands National Seashore Santa Rosa Area including Opal Beach Area and Highway 399, and the Fort Pickens Area are closed until further notice due to storm surge from Hurricane Idalia creating standing water up to two feet deep in certain areas.
Campground reservations for Fort Pickens will be postponed or canceled through Thursday, August 31. Current campers are advised to shelter in place until able to safely evacuate.
Park staff will continue to assess conditions and will reevaluate all park areas for reopening conditions and announce updates as appropriate.
All other areas of the park in Florida and in Mississippi are open for day use only.
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 habitats. Visit us at www.nps.gov/guis, on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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.
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Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service