By Klaudine Caday and Renee Suarez
EBC Florida Bureau
FLORIDA (Eagle News) — The southeastern seaboard has made adjustments to the oncoming storm, Irma, more than just evacuations and deactivating tolls. Florida schools have begun the process of cancelling classes and closing down campuses to reduce the travel and motivation to stay in danger zones for families and other residents.
Governor Rick Scott had issued a statement declaring over 60 counties within the state of Florida to be in a “state of emergency”. This included requests to begin receiving and issuing preparation materials for Florida residents.
Local residents and tourists alike have been prompted to follow suit of state government preparations by raiding supermarkets and bulk-sized-item distributors for non-perishable goods, hygienic necessities, and, most of all, have cleaned the shelves of water.
In order to allow for ample time to prepare before the storm, Florida schools have issued closings as far inland as Orlando and as far north as Jacksonville. Universities and colleges with dormitories and student living accommodations have been advising students to start looking for opportunities to stay with family during the storm or be moved from their current dorm rooms to more secure buildings and ride-out locations.
The Hurricane Irma Q&A online website of the University of Central Florida has alerted students living on campus without an off-campus accommodation to bring “water, food, medication, etc.” to last as long as seven days in the facilities provided by the university.
School officials have made adjustments to university and college class schedules and campus activities– going so far as to cancel or move even populated football games. These colleges have differing schedules as to whether campus will be open between Thursday, September 7, and Monday, September 11, or when classes are canceled. Check the listing of colleges and universities paired with their updated closing times following.
As for elementary, middle, and high school students in the path of the storm, a majority of schools and districts have preemptively announced the cancellation of classes and the closure of campuses from Friday, September 8, to Monday, September 11. Another fraction of schools, mostly in South Florida, has already cancelled class for Thursday, September 7, after granting a holiday for students this past Monday in honor of Labor Day—giving students up to two full days of school this week.
As of Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Governor Scott ordered that all public schools be closed from Friday, September 8 to Monday, September 11.
North Florida:
Duval County Schools
- Thursday: Early Release Schedule
- Friday-Monday: Schools Closed
St. Johns County Schools
- Friday-Monday: Schools Closed
Nassau County Schools
- Friday-Monday: Schools Closed
Clay County Schools
- Friday-Monday: Schools Closed
Diocese of St. Augustine
- Friday-Monday: Schools Closed
University of North Florida
- Friday-Monday: Campus Closed
Jacksonville University
- Friday-Tuesday: Campus Closed
Edge Waters College
- Friday-Tuesday: Campus Closed
Florida State College at Jacksonville
- Friday-Monday: Campus Closed
St. Johns River State College
- Friday: Campus Closed until further notice
Nova Southeastern University (All campuses in Puerto Rico and Florida)
- Thursday: Campus Closed until further notice
University of Florida
- Thursday: Classes Canceled
- Friday-Monday: Campus Closed
Florida State University
University is Open, except:
The FSU College of Medicine Regional Medical Campus in Orlando: Closed through Monday
The FSU College of Medicine Regional Medical Campus in Sarasota: Closed Friday-Monday
The FSU College of Medicine Regional Medical Campus in Ft. Pierce: Closed Thursday and Friday
The FSU College of Medicine Regional Medical Campus in Daytona Beach: Closed Thursday-Monday
The FSU College of Medicine Health Education Site in Immokalee: Closed through Friday
Central Florida:
University of Central Florida
- Thursday: Classes Cancelled
- Friday-Monday: Campus Closed
Keiser University Melbourne
- Thursday-Monday: Classes Cancelled, Campus Closed
Keiser University (Lakeland, Orlando, Tampa, Daytona Beach)
- Friday-Monday: Classes Cancelled, Campus Closed
Everglades University
- Thursday: 5pm-Classes Cancelled
- Friday-Monday: Campus Closed
FAMU
- Wednesday-Friday: Classes Cancelled
Bethune-Cookman University
- Evacuating Campus
- Wednesday: Residence Halls close at 6pm
- Dining Halls close at 7pm
South Florida:
Florida Keys Community College
- Wednesday: Campus Closed until further notice
Miami-Dade College
- Wednesday at 4PM – Sunday: Campus Closed
Florida International University
- Wednesday: Classes Canceled
- Thursday-Sunday: Campus Closed
- *Currently a hurricane shelter for Monroe County evacuees
University of Miami
- Wednesday-Sunday: Campus Closed
Barry University
- Wednesday at 4PM: Campus Closed until further notice
Broward College
- Wednesday at 6PM – Sunday: Campus Closed
Florida Atlantic University
- Thursday-Sunday: Campus Closed
Lynn University
- Thursday-Friday: Campus Closed
Palm Beach State College
- Thursday-Friday: Campus Closed
Johnson & Wales University (North Miami)
- Thursday-Friday: Campus Closed
(Eagle News Service)
