Leon County Schools to close Wednesday ahead of Idalia; Schools will open as shelters
Leon County School District will be closed amid the dangerous threat of Tropical Storm Idalia that is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, potentially as a Category 3 hurricane.
"This is a very serious storm, please do not be caught off guard," Superintendent Rocky Hanna said in a video released on social media.
Florida State University, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College quickly followed suit and also announced a Wednesday closure.
Hanna made the announcement during a joint meeting with city and county leaders, who declared a local state of emergency, on Monday at the Leon County Emergency Management Operations Center.
Leon County Schools will be open on Tuesday, August 29 and closed on Wednesday, August 30. Four of our schools will operate as shelters starting tomorrow at 5:00 pm.Tropical Storm Idalia could have significant impact to our local region. Please plan now for the arrival of the storm overnight Tuesday. We anticipate school being open on Thursday. If there are any changes, we will inform our community on Wednesday. After-school activities will be open until 6pm.
Posted by Leon County Schools on Monday, August 28, 2023
Hanna said the school district will open emergency shelters Tuesday evening at Chiles High School, Lincoln High School, Rickards High School and Fort Braden K-8 School. Hanna said it was unclear if schools would be able to open on Thursday.
All school activities will end at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, including athletics.
Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Saturday for 33 of Florida's 67 counties ahead of Idalia.
Tropical Storm Idalia is intensifying and is expected to become a "dangerous major hurricane" before making landfall along Florida's Gulf Coast Wednesday, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
As of Monday morning, Leon, Wakulla and Jefferson counties were under a tropical storm watch, though a hurricane watch was in effect for the coast from Bay County east across the Big Bend.
Here's a look at other school districts' plans
Similar to Leon, Franklin County Schools will be closing on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to district spokesperson Morgan Martin.
Maclay School will be closed on Wednesday and reopen Thursday.
Superintendent Alicia Beshears of the Taylor County School District said schools will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday and will potentially reopen on Thursday.
Jefferson County School District in Monticello will release students early on Tuesday at 12:20 p.m. and be closed on Wednesday, according to a social media post under the school districts' account. The district announced no shelters would be opened; however, the decision may change as more information develops.
The Liberty County School District announced schools will be closed Wednesday.
Madison County Schools will release students early at 12 p.m. Tuesday and remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday. The Madison County Central School building will serve as an emergency shelter beginning Tuesday evening.
The Florida A&M University Developmental Research School will close early at 1 p.m. on Tuesday and remain closed through Wednesday.
More: Idalia forecast: Florida faces a major hurricane threat; prepare now | WeatherTiger
More: As Hurricane Watches go up for Big Bend coastal counties, Tallahassee and Leon prepare
This is a developing story. Check back for more details.
Alaijah Brown is with the Tallahassee Democrat and can be reached at ABrown1@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Leon County Schools to close as Idalia nears, will open shelters
