Hurricanes

 

Tropical systems have shaped and reshaped the geography, flora, and fauna of the barrier islands and shorelines of the Gulf of America for centuries. The most intense of these systems are known as hurricanes, which a tropical cyclones with sustained winds of 74 mph or more. These storms can change barrier islands in dramatic and permanent ways.

Due to the location of Gulf Islands National Seashore, the National Park Service (NPS) is constantly working to prepare and improve the resiliency of national seashore facilities and resources. However, despite these efforts, tropical systems will continue to have substantial impacts on national seashore operations. The National Park Service to take certain steps when these systems threaten the area to ensure the safety of our visitors and employees.

Tropical systems are naturally occurring, dynamic, and changing constantly through their development and disintegration. That variability requires the NPS to err on the side of caution and always be prepared for the most intense conditions forecasted. Gulf Islands National Seashore’s barrier islands are the first line of defense for developed mainland areas against storm surges and high energy winds associated with tropical systems. These islands are normally the first, and sometimes the most, impacted areas when tropical systems make landfall.

The national seashore prepares for these anticipated impacts and will normally be the first site in the local area to close and the last area to reopen. In some of these locations, roadways and facilities are just a few yards from the Gulf of America. Although every storm is different in its strength, duration, speed, track, and landfall, Gulf Islands National Seashore follows a hurricane plan that prescribes the orderly closure and evacuation of national seashore areas and islands.

 

Additional Resources

• National Hurricane Center
• Storm Prediction Center
• National Seashore Facebook Page

Gulf Islands Severe Weather Action Plan*:

The island areas of Gulf Islands National Seashore are regularly closed first. These closures can occur when the National Weather Service forecasts tropical conditions to impact the national seashore within the next 24-36 hours. In this situation, Fort Pickens, Perdido Key, Opal Beach, Okaloosa Areas in Florida, and Cat, West Ship, East Ship, Horn, West Petit Bois, Petit Bois Islands in Mississippi will be closed. When the Fort Pickens Area is closed, the Fort Pickens Campground is closed and campers are required to evacuate within a time frame announced by the park service preceding dangerous conditions.

In the event of named tropical systems (tropical storms and hurricanes), all areas of the national seashore are likely to close ahead of the storm. As outlined in the park’s hurricane plan, the NPS will follow the following schedule; however, circumstances may lead to a modified schedule.

• Major hurricanes (Category 3-5)
  The national seashore will close 36-72 hours before forecasted landfall.

• Hurricanes (Category 1-2)
  The national seashore will close 24-60 hours before forecasted landfall.

• Tropical Storms
  The national seashore will close 12-24 hours before forecasted landfall.

*Evacuations and closures will begin prior to these closure targets.

Where to Get Information:

The National Park Service works hard to inform our visitors and the local community about emergency closures and evacuations. The park has several tools to inform the public including traditional and digital media. 

 

Conditions Change Quickly

Temporary Road and Facility Closures

 

The Road to Recovery

After A Storm