Hurricane Ian update: Palm Beach County schools closed Thursday, as storm reaches Florida
Palm Beach County public schools will remain closed Thursday, as the region anticipates intense wind and rain from Hurricane Ian.
Superintendent Mike Burke previously joined dozens of superintendents in closing school districts throughout the state Wednesday. Thousands of Palm Beach County residents have since lost power, and a tornado caused extensive damage at Kings Point, west of Delray Beach.
As of Wednesday morning, when the storm closed in on Florida's southwest coast, the district had no reports of damage at its 180 campuses.
Stay up to date: Hurricane Ian live updates: With 155-mph winds, eyewall moving onshore
Read more: Palm Beach County schools closed Wednesday for Hurricane Ian
Tornado damage in Delray: Hurricane Ian: Major damage at Kings Point near Delray Beach caused by tornado
Palm Beach County School District announcements
"District assessment teams, including School District Police, will inspect schools once the threat of tropical storm force winds is gone and it is safe to do so," the release states.
The district asked anyone who notices damage at a public school to email stormdamage@palmbeachschools.org.
District leaders also encouraged families and school employees to monitor its online Hurricane Ian Update and Resource page.
"The District will also continue to update parents and staff via email and phone," the district announced.
Meanwhile, Ian neared Category 5 strength as it crept toward the Cape Coral area, prompting the National Hurricane Center to issue warnings about potentially catastrophic storm surge, winds and flooding expected to inundate Florida.
Palm Beach County remained under a tropical storm warning as of Wednesday afternoon.
Giuseppe Sabella is an education reporter at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at gsabella@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism and subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Hurricane Ian updates: Palm Beach County schools closed Thursday
