Hurricane Related School Closures in Tampa Bay
As we all keep our eyes on Helene, Tampa Bay Area schools are beginning to announce school closures to ensure families have time to prepare and so designated schools can serve as storm shelters for the community.
We are working to gather the latest updates from each school district to help your family prepare and plan. Still, you want to be sure to stay up to date with your individual school district and school as information may change very quickly.
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Hillsborough County Public Schools:
Follow Hillsborough County Public Schools Facebook page here.
Tuesday, September 24, 2024, update:
“As our district leaders have worked closely with local emergency management officials to monitor Tropical Storm Helene, we have been advised that our area could see sustained wind levels and potential flooding that would make it dangerous for students and our staff to travel to and from school.
Our top priority is to keep everyone safe, so we have decided to close school on Wednesday and Thursday, September 25 and 26.
The county is currently reviewing which of our sites could be used as storm shelters for our neighbors living in low-lying areas or residents from surrounding counties who need to evacuate.
Extracurricular activities for tonight (Tuesday) are still scheduled and HOST for today is still open. Athletic events, extracurricular activities, and HOST for Wednesday and Thursday are canceled.
Once we have more information from county emergency management officials, we will notify you regarding our plan for school opening on Friday.
We encourage all families to review their emergency plans and stay prepared. Please stay safe.”
Follow Pinellas County Public Schools Facebook page here.
Tuesday, September 24, 2024, update:
“Pinellas County Schools is working closely with Pinellas County Emergency Management in preparation for the tropical system predicted to impact our community. All Pinellas County Schools and offices will be CLOSED on Wednesday, September 25 through Thursday, September 26. All sports and school activities scheduled for Wednesday, September 25, through Thursday, September 26, are canceled.”
Sports and activities scheduled for Tuesday, September 24 will occur as scheduled. Activities at sites designated as shelters may be altered.
Please continue to visit www.pcsb.org/weather for weather-related updates from Pinellas County Schools. Should conditions change, Pinellas County Schools will communicate updates using the following methods:
- A recorded phone message to all employees and families
- Email message to employees and families
- Text message to all registered users (opt-in by texting YES to 67587)
- Information posted on the district website: www.pcsb.org
- Information will be shared with local TV, radio, print and online news outlets
- Information posted on the district’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts
- Emergency Information Phone Line: (727) 588-6424. Call the Emergency Information Phone Line to hear a recorded update
Pasco County Public Schools:
Follow Pasco County Schools Facebook page here for updates.
Tuesday, September 24, 2024, update:
“We want to inform you about important updates due to the upcoming storm expected to impact our county on Thursday. Pasco County Emergency Management has requested that we open five schools as emergency shelters. Here are the details regarding school closures and activities:
Wednesday, September 25, 2024:
Schools will open as scheduled.
All after-school activities and events are canceled to prepare for the storm and shelter setup.
ASEP/PLACE programs will continue as usual.
Thursday, September 26, 2024:
All district offices and schools will be closed.
This includes the cancellation of all after-school programs, ASEP, and PLACE.
Friday, September 27, 2024:
We plan to reopen schools, depending on the storm’s impact.
Further updates will be provided as soon as we have more information.”
Follow Citrus County Public Schools on Facebook here.
“All Citrus County Schools will close schools Thursday, September 26th and September 27th as Citrus County braces for storm. School will continue as previously scheduled as a half-day, on Wednesday, September 25th.
After this morning’s policy meeting with the Emergency Operations Center, the Sheriff’s Office has decided to open shelters starting Wednesday, September 25th at 2pm. Because some of our schools are used as hurricane shelters, this means that all schools will be closed after our scheduled half-day on Wednesday, September 25th.
𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝:
𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟔𝐭𝐡
𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟕𝐭𝐡
After-school programs and extra-curricular activities are cancelled beginning Wednesday through Friday, September 27th. However, the YMCA before and after school programs will continue on Wednesday until 6pm.
Many factors are considered when the Emergency Operations Center activates shelters, and our school district plays a vital role in the EOC’s response.
We encourage you to stay up to date with local news reports; we will continue to update you through Skyward emails, texts, and phone calls, as necessary. You can also monitor the impact on schools at www.citrusschools.org and our district and school social media pages.”
Hernando County Public Schools
Follow Hernando Schools on Facebook here for updates.
Tuesday, September 24, 2024, update:
“According to the National Hurricane Center and Hernando County Emergency Management, a tropical storm system, currently moving through the Gulf, is predicted to strengthen through Tuesday and is likely to impact our community between Wednesday September 25 and Thursday, September 26. At this time, the school district is preparing schools to serve as storm shelters for area residents.
Hernando Schools will close schools and district offices Wednesday and Thursday of this week. All afterschool activities for Wednesday and Thursday will be cancelled. Before and aftercare programs (YMCA and Boys & Girls Club) will not operate on those days.
After we know more about the storm’s potential impact to our community, we will make a determination as to reopening schools on Friday.”
Follow Polk County Public Schools on Facebook here.
Tuesday, September 24, 2024, update: No changes to the current school schedule
School District of Manatee County:
Follow the School District of Manatee County on Facebook here for updates.
Tuesday, September 24, 2024, update: No changes to the current schedule
Sarasota County Public Schools:
Follow Sarasota County Public Schools on Facebook here for updates.
Tuesday, September 24, 2024, update:
“Sarasota County Schools and Sarasota County Emergency Services are monitoring Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 (Tropical Storm/Hurricane Helene when it develops further) as it approaches Southwest Florida.
Based on the latest track of the storm, the decision has been made to close all traditional public schools after school ends today to enable those schools that are designated as evacuation centers to prepare to receive residents on Wednesday, September 25. All traditional public schools will be closed for normal school operations from Wednesday, September 25 through Friday, September 27 due to the storm. After school activities will happen on Tuesday, September 24 only.
We will share additional school-related updates via direct messages, social media platforms and www.sarasotacountyschools.net/hurricane.
Please continue to visit Sarasota County’s website (www.scgov.net) as well as local media outlets for the latest weather-related updates. Thank you for your continued support of our schools – please stay safe!”