Hurricane Helene: School closures announced as Florida braces for hit by major hurricane

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ORLANDO, Fla. - Update (9/26) | This story is no longer being updated. Several schools have announced plans to reopen on Friday. View list here

Hurricane Helene developed on Wednesday and is projected to intensify into a major hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico. It could potentially make landfall in Florida on Thursday.

In anticipation of the storm, school districts and universities in Florida are starting to announce school closures. FOX 35 News will provide updates to this article as more details regarding Central Florida schools become available.

Tracking Helene: Continuing Coverage

Alachua County

Alachua County Public Schools will be open on Wednesday, Sept. 25. All activities must end by 6 p.m.
Will make a decision by 2 p.m. Wednesday regarding Thursday.

Brevard County

Brevard Public Schools will be open on Wednesday, Sept. 25. All after-school activities on Wednesday will operate as normal.
All Brevard Public Schools and offices will be closed on Thursday, Sept. 26. Schools plan to reopen on Friday, Sept. 27.

Dixie County

Closed on Thursday, Sept. 26
Closed on Friday, Sept. 27.

Flagler County

Flagler County Schools will be closed on Thursday, Sept. 26.

Gilchrist County

Gilchrist County Schools will end at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. All after-school activities are closed.
Schools closed on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 26 & 27.

Lake County

Lake County schools will be closed on Thursday, Sept. 26.
Schools and district offices will reopen on Friday.

Levy County

Lake County Schools closed on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Closed on Thursday, Sept. 27.

Marion County

Marion County Schools will be closed on Thursday, Sept. 26.

Orange County

Open on Wednesday, Sept. 25. All activities must end by 6 p.m.
Closed on Thursday, Sept. 26.
Decision not made for Friday, Sept. 27.

Osceola County

Open on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Closed on Thursday, Sept. 26.
Decision not made for Friday, Sept. 27.

Polk County

Polk County Schools open on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Schools will be closed on Thursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27.

Seminole County

Open on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Closed on Thursday, Sept. 26.
Decision not made for Friday, Sept. 27.

Sumter County

Sumter District Schools will be closed on Thursday, Sept. 26 and Friday. Sept. 27.

Volusia County

Volusia County Schools has canceled after-school activities for Wednesday, Sept. 25, but class will be in session.
Classes have been canceled for Thursday, Sept. 26.

Florida College, University Closures

University of Central Florida (UCF)

Campus and classes open on Wednesday, Sept. 25
Classes and campus operations closed on Thursday, Sept. 26.
Operations expected to resume at 6 a.m. on Friday

Florida A&M University

Closed Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Sept. 24-27
All academic activities also suspended

Florida State University (FSU)

FSU Main Campus will be closed Wednesday - Sunday, Sept. 25-29, 2024.
Main campus will close at 7 a.m. Wednesday
Campus expected to resume normal operations on Monday, Sept. 30.
The Marine Lab at Turkey Point will also be closed Wednesday - Sunday, Sept. 25-29.
Student housing in Tallahasee will remain open
Visit https://alerts.fsu.edu/ for info on Florida State University School, FSU satellite campuses

Tallahassee State College

Closed Wednesday, Sept. 25 through Friday, Sept. 27.

Lake-Sumter State College

All campus locations are closed on Thursday, Sept. 26.
College officials will make a decision regarding reopening at 7 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 27.

Full Sail University

Full Sail University will be closed on Thursday, Sept. 26.
Plan to resume normal operations on Friday.

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