GULF COAST, AL -

Official say in response to tropical storm Karen, the beaches in Gulf Shores have been closed.

Governor Robert Bentley on Thursday said Alabama emergency response agencies will be ready to respond to Tropical Storm Karen as needed, and Alabamians are encouraged to prepare for a potential impact from the storm.

On Thursday, the National Hurricane Center issued a Hurricane Watch for much of the U.S. Gulf Coast, including Baldwin and Mobile Counties. A Hurricane Watch means hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 miles-per-hour or higher) are possible within the specified area. A Hurricane Watch is generally issued 48 hours in advance of the onset of tropical-storm-force winds.

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"Our state agencies are monitoring the track of Tropical Storm Karen, and Alabama families should do the same," Governor Bentley said. "On the state level, we will be prepared for a possible emergency response. On the individual level, people play an important role in community preparedness. Make sure you monitor local forecasts. Review your family emergency response plans. Understand this storm can affect people inland as well, not just on the Coast. Now is the time to think ahead and prepare in case Karen directly impacts Alabama."

Governor Bentley and Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Art Faulkner are in contact with the National Weather Service in Mobile, the NationalHurricaneCenter, FEMA Region IV and countyEMAs discussing storm preparation and response if it is deemed necessary.

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Beaches close as the gulf prepares for Tropical Storm Karen