TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — School districts, colleges and universities are announcing closings ahead of a potential hurricane impacting the Big Bend and South Georgia. See our live blog with updates below.
WATCH THE FORECAST FOR THE STORM IN THE VIDEO BELOW:
SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS
DECATUR COUNTY:
Due to concerns of high winds and inclement weather associated with Hurricane Helene, Decatur County Schools will be closed on Thursday, September 26th and Friday, September 27th.
The time - frame of storm arrival on Thursday remains uncertain. However, DCS wants to give everyone ample time to prepare and make personal safety decisions.
DCS will release information regarding the status for Monday, September 30th after the hurricane passes our area.
Please take appropriate precautions, stay weather-aware and stay safe!
ECHOLS COUNTY:
Echols County Schools will be closed on Thursday and Friday due to the threat of inclement weather from Hurricane Helene. All after school activities will be canceled for Thursday and Friday. The school currently plans to resume normal operations on Monday.
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY:
Out of an abundance of caution, classes will be canceled beginning today at 12:15 p.m. through Friday, Sept. 27. All academic operations will be suspended to accommodate any potential disruptions caused by the storm. All academic deans and faculty members are asked to work closely with students and provide maximum flexibility during this time.
Campus operations today will be fully functional through 5 p.m. today (Tuesday). The University will be closed Wednesday through Friday. Essential personnel should report to their supervisors. Weekend activities such as Fall Preview, the FAMU home football game and Parents and Family Weekend, will be rescheduled.
The FAMU Developmental Research School (K-12) will close on Wednesday, Sept. 25, and will remain closed on Thursday and Friday for the safety of students, teachers, and staff. The FAMU Educational Research Center for Child Development (ERCCD) will close for the week beginning at 5:30 p.m.
While it is too soon to pinpoint the exact location and magnitude the tropical weather system, the potential for life-threatening storm surge and damaging hurricane-force winds along the coast of the Florida Panhandle and the Florida west coast is increasing. Students, faculty, and staff should be aware that there is a great deal of uncertainty in the current forecast and the system’s track and intensity.
This system does not yet have a defined center. The University administration will continue to monitor the storm closely and provide updates as necessary. Students, faculty, and staff are urged to stay informed and prioritize their safety during this period. Please use this time to prepare for your storms and review your hurricane safety plans before the onset of severe weather. You can find preparedness resources: https://www.floridadisaster.org/disaster-updates/storm-updates/
For further updates, please check FAMU Alert, visit famu.edu, or follow the official FAMU social media channels.
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY:
Florida State University’s Tallahassee campus will close on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, due to Tropical Storm Helene, which is projected to be upgraded to hurricane by tomorrow.
The closure begins at 7 a.m. ET Wednesday, Sept. 25, and will continue until 11 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 29. The university expects to resume normal business operations at 12:00 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. The Marine Lab at Turkey Point will also be closed on these dates. If changes to operations are needed at other campus locations, targeted communications will follow.
Rain, winds, and thunderstorms are possible ahead of tropical storm conditions Wednesday through Friday. Please stay alert and continue to monitor weather conditions. Anticipated impacts to our area include severe wind damage, flooding and power outages. Exercise caution, seek shelter, and stay indoors anytime storm conditions impact campus and surrounding areas.
Essential business operations will continue during the closure. Vice Presidents and Deans will provide guidance for their respective divisions and colleges. Employees designated by their department as essential personnel should consult with their supervisors.
For those who wish to remain on campus, Tallahassee campus housing operations will continue throughout the closure. Students who elect to stay on campus and in the community should follow the guidance of local officials and plan for possible power outages in the area, including on campus. Students should prepare now and make provisions to potentially be indoors all day Thursday. Students should refer to an email sent by Student Affairs on Monday about how to prepare for the storm.
Dining operations will continue for residential students when safe to do so, though an alternate schedule will be implemented during the closure. Students should prepare now if no readily available dining options are open on Thursday. Additional details on student services and programming will be shared on alerts.fsu.edu as they are available.
Business Continuity Information Human Resources has accelerated the payroll schedule. Employees should enter all time for this pay period by Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 5:00 p.m. Supervisors must approve time by Wednesday, September 25 at noon. Department Representatives must be available remotely to monitor time entry/approvals and Cost Center 1. Please follow timekeeping guidance sent in a separate email from Human Resources.
University officials will continue to closely monitor the developments of this storm and will issue announcements as warranted. Everyone is strongly encouraged to review procedures on how to prepare for severe weather at emergency.fsu.edu.
For updated information on the University’s status, official announcements, or situational updates, check alerts.fsu.edu.
Faculty and Staff Sandbags for campus use are available for pickup in the Mendenhall compound.
Please help Facilities prepare campus for the pending storm event by doing the following before the closure:
- Relocate valuables and electronics away from areas near floors and windows in case of water intrusion. Cover with plastic if possible.
- Document equipment with photos/videos.
- Unplug any unnecessary electronic items.
- Remove all perishable items from personal and shared refrigerators. If the university is without power for several days, any remaining perishable food may need to be discarded.
- Secure all windows, roll-up doors, garage doors, and exterior doors. Do not leave doors or windows propped open! Lower blinds when you leave.
- Fill departmental vehicles with gas.
- Place all office trash and recycling in Community Waste Stations so custodial staff can empty during their final walk through.
- Secure or bring in any loose items on surrounding your building.
Continue to check alerts.fsu.edu and the SeminoleSAFE mobile app for updates.
FRANKLIN COUNTY SCHOOLS:
Due to the developing storm in the Gulf of Mexico and the increasing likelihood of significant impacts on Franklin County, we are taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and families.
Earlier this afternoon, Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Franklin County and 41 counties in Florida. After consulting with the Franklin County Emergency Operations Center and our neighboring school districts, we have made the following decisions:
School Canceled: There will be no school on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday (September 25, 26, and 27).
Staff Excused: All staff are excused during these days to focus on personal safety and preparations.
Athletic Events Postponed/Canceled: All athletic events scheduled from Wednesday to Friday have been postponed or canceled.
School Resumes: School will resume on Monday, September 30, if conditions allow.
Please stay informed through local emergency broadcasts and take this time to prepare for the potential impacts of the storm. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Stay safe and take all necessary precautions. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday, September 30th.
GRADY COUNTY:
All Grady County Schools and offices will be closed Thursday Sept. 26 and Friday Sept. 27.
HAMILTON COUNTY:
Hamilton County School District will close the district and schools for Thursday, September 26th and Friday, September 27th due to the severe weather (possible hurricane) predicted to be in our area.
Wednesday will be normal hours of operations.
All after-school activities and any school-sponsored evening events are canceled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
The school district will reopen on Monday, September 30th for normal operations. If any updates are necessary, appropriate information will be shared once the storm passes through our county.
The Hamilton County Emergency Management Center will open the Severe Weather Shelter at Hamilton County High School’s gym on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.. Opening of the shelter requires the closing of the schools.
If any family is in need of a storm-related service, please contact the Hamilton County Emergency Management Center at (386) 792-6647.
JACKSON COUNTY:
Due to the anticipated landfall of Hurricane Helene, and out of abundance of caution for the safety of our students and staff, Jackson County Schools and district offices will be closed on Thursday, September 26th, and Friday, September 27th. Classes will resume on Monday, September 30th.
JEFFERSON COUNTY:
Due to Tropical Storm Helene, please take note of the following changes:
Early Release tomorrow Wednesday, September 25, 2024.
Release Time: 1:30 PM
All after-school activities are canceled tomorrow through Friday.
No school Thursday or Friday.
Stay safe Tigers! Make sure to stay tuned and check for updates as we continue to monitor the storm now and afterwards, here on our FB Page, our website at jeffersonschools.net, and the Focus Portal.
KEISER UNIVERSITY:
Due to the threat of severe weather caused by Hurricane Helene, Keiser University Tallahassee will be closed on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 – Friday, September 27, 2024.
LAFAYETTE COUNTY:
Lafayette County Schools will be closed on Thursday (September 26th) and Friday (September 27th) of this week. Please continue to check our Facebook Page for the most up to date information.
LIBERTY COUNTY:
Liberty County Schools closed Thursday and Friday, Sept. 26-27.
After consulting with Liberty County Emergency Management, and conversation with other local and state agencies, district leaders feel Wednesday will be free from any severe weather at our schools prior to the storm's arrival on Thursday. Liberty County Emergency Management will announce shelter openings in the near future.
LEON COUNTY:
Leon County Schools will be adjusting school operations for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week due to the forecasted arrival of Hurricane Helene.
Wednesday, September 25 - will be an early release day.
- High schools will dismiss at 11:20 a.m,
- Elementary at 12:20 a.m.
- Middle schools at 1:20 p.m.
Thursday, September 26 - all schools and district offices will be closed.
Friday, September 27 - all schools and district offices will be closed.
For more information visit https://www.leonschools.net/weatherupdates
LOWNDES COUNTY SCHOOLS:
Due to Tropical Storm Helene as well as Governor Kemp issuing a State of Emergency in Georgia, and Chairman Bill Slaughter declaring a State of Emergency for Lowndes County, all Lowndes County Schools and System Offices will be closed on Thursday, September 26th, and Friday, September 27th.
All after-school activities, including the Lowndes - Colquitt football game, are postponed.
As always, the safety of our staff and students is our top priority. We urge everyone to use caution and be safe. We will remain in constant communication with Lowndes County Emergency Management and local officials. Please follow EMA Lowndes on social media for ongoing updates.
As we monitor weather conditions and the impact in our area, we will promptly notify you of any other schedule changes. We look forward to seeing our One Lowndes family back at school on Monday, September 30th.
NORTH FLORIDA COLLEGE:
All NFC locations will be closed to students and the public from Wednesday through Friday (Sept. 25-27) with anticipated reopening on Monday, Sept. 30, pending storm damage. Stay tuned to alerts for updates.
Sign up for e2campus alerts: https://nfcc.omnilert.net/subscriber.php
SUWANNEE COUNTY:
Superintendent Ted Roush has announced that as of the date and time of this notice, the Suwannee County School District, working closely with local emergency management, consultation with the Florida Department of Emergency Management, and the National Weather Service, has made the decision to close school operations for Thursday, September 26, through Friday, September 27.
There will be no before or after-school activities, including athletic events or practices, during this period of closure. The Suwannee County School District will resume regular operations on Monday, September 30, for the already scheduled Professional Development Day, weather and utility conditions permitting. Students will return as scheduled on Tuesday, October 1. Any changes to this plan of action will be communicated by 5:00 P.M. on Sunday afternoon, September 29, through the District's website, social media, local, and regional television and radio broadcasts.
TALLAHASSEE STATE COLLEGE:
TSC ALERT! Due to the potential impact of PTC 9 which is expected to become a major hurricane, TSC will cancel classes and close all campuses starting on Wednesday, September 25, through Friday, September 27. Updates will be posted as more information is available.
TAYLOR COUNTY:
Following the latest meeting with Emergency Management, all Taylor County Schools and its' offices will be closed this week from Wednesday, September 25th, through Friday, September 27th. All after school and other activities are also suspended until further notice.
Based off of the current forecast information Taylor County Emergency Management is anticipating our county being impacted in some way by a major hurricane (category 3 or higher).
Current models are predicting approximately 10-15 feet of storm surge for our county. Recent Eventbridge notifications state that a storm surge such as this may not be survivable. Additionally, the impact of strong winds will likely cause some building damage and widespread power outages to our region.
As such it is not anticipated that any shelters will be opened in Taylor County. Our Emergency Management team is still working with our state and local partners to arrange for shelters, however this storm is large and every county in our area is likely to be impacted.
THOMAS UNIVERSITY:
Because of the potential threat posed by the incoming storm, Thomas University campus will be closed Wednesday, 9/25/24 – Friday, 9/27/24. All in-person classes will be moving online and all in-person activities are canceled.
THOMAS COUNTY:
Due to the threat of severe weather from Hurricane Helene, all Thomas County Schools will be closed on Thursday, September 26, and Friday, September 27. This decision was made in consultation with national, state, and local emergency agencies to ensure the safety of our students, teachers, and staff. Further updates will be provided as necessary.
THOMASVILLE CITY SCHOOLS:
A decision has been made to close school for students and staff on Thursday, September 26th & Friday, September 27th. Please continue to check the district website, social media, emails, and texts for further updates. Be weather prepared and stay connected!
VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY:
To ensure the safety of our entire campus community, VSU will be closed Thursday, Sept. 26, and Friday, Sept. 27.
Residence Halls: Students and housing employees who live on campus are allowed to remain in their hall during the closure and storm. Housing staff will be providing guidance and support to residents throughout the storm. During the brunt of the storm, students remaining on campus will be required to shelter in place in their residence hall. Separate communication from Housing will be sent to students living on campus asking to report if they will be staying.
Dining Services: All dining locations on campus will have normal operating hours on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
- Palms Dining will be open Thursday, Sept. 26 for brunch from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. All other dining locations will be closed.
- Meal plan holders can eat and take a meal to go from the dining halls during brunch.
- Storm meal bags with non-perishable items can also be picked up from Palms Dining during this time.
- We anticipate Palms Dining to reopen for meal service once the storm passes Friday and it is safe to do so. Updates will be sent via email.
- We encourage students to also have water and shelf-stable food.
Athletics: Both the Blazer volleyball and women’s soccer matches scheduled for Friday have been moved. For Saturday, both the home football game vs. West Alabama (7 p.m.) and the home volleyball match vs. Union (1 p.m.) are still on as of now. The volleyball match rescheduled from Friday will be played at 1 p.m. this Sunday at The Complex. The scheduled soccer match on Sunday at 1 p.m. vs. Lee is also still a go at this time. Updates on the impact of Helene on Blazer Athletics can be found here.
Students, faculty, and staff should continue to monitor their valdosta.edu email for updates. Updates will also be posted on VSU’s flagship social media accounts (@valdostastate).
VALDOSTA CITY SCHOOLS:
Valdosta City Schools will be closed on Thursday, September 26, and Friday, September 27, 2024, due to Tropical Storm/Hurricane Helene. All after-school activities are canceled. A decision about Friday’s game against Camden County will be announced on Friday.
The VCS School Nutrition Program is preparing bagged meals for students to take home. After the storm, VCS personnel will assess facilities for any damage and provide updates on the return to school.
Stay informed with updates from EMA Lowndes, City of Valdosta, and VCS:
• Download the VCS App: https://www.gocats.org/o/vcs/page/vcsapp [gocats.org]
• Sign up for AlertLowndes: https://bit.ly/AlertLowndes [bit.ly]
• EMA Lowndes Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LowndesEMA [facebook.com]
• Valdosta Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CityofValdosta [facebook.com]
WAKULLA COUNTY:
Due to the expected arrival of Hurricane Helene, all Wakulla County Schools and administrative offices will be closed Wednesday September 25th through Friday September 27th, and all extra-curricular activities on these dates are canceled as well.
Please continue to monitor our website and social media channels after the storm passes for updated information on the timeline for school re-openings and for the rescheduling of canceled events.
