Tropical Storm Nicole: Marion schools closed Thursday; tropical storm watch; sandbag sites

Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner
·2 min read

On Tuesday, Marion County was placed under a tropical storm watch.

With Tropical Storm Nicole heading toward Florida, Marion County Public Schools officials announced schools will be closed on Thursday. Also, for Wednesday afternoon, all extracurricular activities are canceled, with the exception of Marion Afterschool Programs.

School officials said the goal is to re-open schools and district offices on Friday, pending weather and safety inspections.

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Marion has more than 22,000 students riding school buses every day, officials said. Those buses are not allowed to operate with sustained winds exceeding 35 mph.

Tropical Storm Nicole as of 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Tropical Storm Nicole as of 10 a.m. Tuesday.

School authorities said students won't have to make up lost time for Thursday because of instructional time already in school schedules.

For now, school officials said they do not anticipate schools being used as shelters.

Shelters, sandbag stations, info line

Sheriff's Office officials said there will be a special-needs shelter at the Marion County Sheriff's Office Multi-Purpose Room, 3300 NW 10th St., that opens Wednesday at 11 a.m.

The Citizen Hotline will be open Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Thursday, from 7 a.m. through 10 p.m.

As for sandbags:

  • The site at the Belleview Sports Complex, 6501 SE 107th St., will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

  • A City of Ocala site will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Tuscawilla Park.

  • A Dunnellon site will be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at North Ohio and Chestnut Street.

What to expect from Nicole

Earlier on Tuesday, the Marion County Sheriff's Office Facebook page noted that tropical storm conditions include sustained winds of 39-73 mph, and it's possible the area could experience those weather conditions within 48 hours.

"Impacts (from Tropical Storm Nicole) will begin Wednesday & will continue thru Friday. Make sure your hurricane supply kit is ready to go and make preparations to secure your home," according to the sheriff's office's social media post.

Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Tropical Storm Nicole: Schools closed Thursday in Marion County, Florida