Gulf Breeze, Fla. - Gulf Islands National Seashore officials will begin shutdown procedures at the park’s island units to all visitor use and access starting tonight, October 8, due to the potential impacts from Hurricane Michael.
The Fort Pickens, Perdido Key, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa Areas will close tonight at their normal operating time, and will not reopen tomorrow.  All campers in the park’s Fort Pickens Campground have been ordered to evacuate by 7 p.m. tonight, October 8.
The Fort Barrancas and Naval Live Oaks Areas will remain on their normal operating schedules at this time, but their status may change with conditions.
When announcing this closure, Superintendent Daniel R. Brown said, “with tropical conditions possibly taking aim at the coast, we have to begin now in order to safeguard human life.” Â The National Park Service has to move visitors off the exposed barrier islands and close down all the island operations. Â “Right now, we have to close the park for the safety of our visitors and our employees”, Brown said.
Park status updates will be posted online at www.nps.gov/GulfIslands, www.Facebook.com/GulfIslandsNPS, and www.Twitter.com/GulfIslandsNPS. Additionally, the national seashore operates a severe weather hotline (850) 934-2656. Areas of the national seashore will reopen after the storm has passed and the staff has an opportunity to mitigate any hazards resulting from the storm.