Florida:  At the Santa Rosa Area near Navarre, the J. Earle Bowden Way is closed to vehicular traffic because of sand covering the parking lots and roadway. The Fort Pickens Campground Loop A will reopen on September 20, 2008 but visitors hiking, boating or cycling into the area need to bring their own drinking water. Perdido Key from the east end of Johnson Beach to the east end of the road is closed because of the amount of sand still on the roadway. Backcountry users may camp but they will have to hike from the Johnson Beach parking lot rather than the end of the road. The area designed for backcountry camping is approximately two miles from Johnson Beach. Visitors are urged to use extreme caution when visiting park areas. For more information call 850-934-2600.

Mississippi District: The repairs to the pier and boardwalk on West Ship Island were not started.  The results of Hurricane Ike's high storm surge and high winds caused beach erosion, sand movement, and flooded Fort Massachusetts on West Ship Island. This island has reopened, but the fort will be closed for cleanup until September 24th. There are no lifeguards on duty.For more information call 228-230-4100. All areas of the Mississippi District are open.

Hurricane Ike hit the east coast of Texas on September 13, 2008.The Seashore was still making repairs and moving sand from roadways after Hurricane Gustav's close path on Labor Day Weekend when less than one week later Hurricane Ike was in the Gulf of Mexico. Gulf Islands has been impacted by Tropical Storm Fay, Hurricane Gustav, and Hurricane Ike in less than one month.  Coastal flooding and high winds caused the park to close some areas.

Hurricanes form in the tropics, over warm ocean water and close to the equator. Hurricane season begins June 1st and ends November 30th. Hurricanes are placed in categories based on the strength of their winds.

Hurricanes need four conditions to form:

• low air pressure
• warm temperatures
• moist ocean air
• tropical winds (near the equator)

Gulf Islands National Seashore experienced the fury of four major hurricanes during 2004-2005. Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis were Category 4, Hurricane Katrina, Category 3 and Hurricane Cindy was a Category I. 

Hurricane Gustav glanced Gulf Islands and went ashore in coastal Louisiana, southwest of New Orleans on September 1, 2008.