Walton County schools to close Thursday, schools in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties to remain open
Destin Florida – Anticipated to grow into a major hurricane by Thursday, Tropical Storm Helene is advancing towards Florida’s Big Bend area and school systems all over Northwest Florida are responding in different ways. The approach of the storm has prompted district administrations to give regular updates to guarantee the safety and preparedness of their local areas.
Responding promptly to projections indicating the arrival of Helene as a Category 3 storm, Walton County officials have chosen to close all schools on Thursday, September 26. The announcement made by the district underlined that schools won’t be operational on Thursday for both staff members as well as students. The cancellation of all extracurricular events emphasizes the district’s dedication to safety in front of expected tropical storm force winds and heavy rain. Classes are set to resume on Friday, September 27, still, depending on later weather forecasts.
Read also: Okaloosa Public Safety and the National Weather Service issue update on Tropical Storm Helene
Escambia County schools remain open in meantime. To track the storm, the district has been closely working with the National Weather Service and Escambia County Emergency Operations Center. The district has changed the calendar for some activities as a precaution even though no closures have been issued; Tate High School’s varsity football game was moved from Thursday to Friday night.
Likewise, Santa Rosa County has chosen to keep schools running. Tuesday’s updates from the Santa Rosa Emergency Management Office showed the storm would veer further east, therefore sparing the nearby area from the worst of its effect. Still alert, though, district officials anticipate another update on Wednesday to see whether Thursday’s timetable calls for any adjustments. As district officials have reiterated the primary concern remains the safety and well-being of their personnel and children.
The Okaloosa County school system has also decided to keep campuses open as usual until further notice. According to the latest advisories, the effects of the storm might not be noticed until late Thursday morning or early afternoon. Wednesday school sessions and after-school events will proceed as scheduled. Working with local safety authorities, the district will keep assessing the situation and providing updates, maybe changing Thursday’s agenda depending on the most recent weather forecasts.
As the Tropical Storm Helene develops, every district has underlined the need of being informed through official sources, including district websites and social media. Following any advice from district and local emergency management professionals, parents and students are advised to remain connected for the most recent information and to give safety top priority.
The obvious message from school systems is one of caution and preparedness, ensuring that decisions are driven by the most current and accurate meteorological data and safety procedures as communities all over Northwest Florida get ready for Helene.
