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Hurricane Helene Leads to School, Business, and Office Closures: What’s Open and What’s Closed During the Storm

MIAMI — As Hurricane Helene moves through its northern trajectory, a wave of precaution has swept across the state of Florida. With predictions indicating landfall in the Big Bend area on Thursday evening, many schools, businesses, and government offices have opted to close in anticipation of the storm’s impact. CBS News Miami is committed to providing continuous updates about current closures and operational statuses as the NEXT Weather team keeps a vigilant eye on the storm’s progress.

School Closures

The intensifying Hurricane Helene has prompted numerous educational institutions across Florida to suspend classes. Here’s a brief overview of the closures reported:

Miami-Dade County

Miami-Dade Public Schools remain open on Thursday, yet all outdoor activities have been shifted indoors, including afterschool programs.

— Miami-Dade Schools (@MDCPS) September 25, 2024

Broward County

All Broward Public Schools will close Thursday, with an anticipated reopening on Friday. The closure includes before and after-school care and all extracurricular activities.

— Broward Schools (@browardschools) September 25, 2024

Monroe County

According to announcements from Monroe County Public Schools, all schools and district offices will also close Thursday but are expected to resume operations on Friday.

University of Florida

Classes and offices at the University of Florida are closed for both Thursday and Friday, with all related academic activities suspended during this period. The university will aim to reopen by 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

Florida State University

Florida State University has preemptively closed its Tallahassee campus from Wednesday through Sunday evening, hoping to resume normal operations on the following Monday. Residential students have been relocated to the Augustus B. Turnbull Conference Center as a precaution.

— Florida State University (@FloridaState) September 24, 2024

University of South Florida

USF has canceled classes for Thursday and Friday, with plans to reopen normal operations on Monday. All campuses remain closed during this time.

University of Central Florida

In response to Hurricane Helene, UCF suspended operations and canceled classes, expecting to reopen on Friday at 6 a.m.

Florida Gulf Coast University

FGCU closed its campus for Thursday but expects to resume normal activities on Friday.

Florida A&M University

Classes were canceled on Thursday, with closures also extending to Friday to mitigate disruption from the storm.

Government Closures

At the governmental level, closures are widespread. The Florida Department of Management Services has noted that 29 counties under emergency declarations have announced closures. Notable among them include:

  • Alachua: Wednesday through Thursday
  • Broward: Thursday through Friday
  • Duval: Thursday through Friday
  • Hillsborough: Thursday through Friday
  • Lee: Thursday through Friday
  • Pinellas: Wednesday through Thursday

Additionally, all City of Tampa offices will close starting Thursday to prioritize emergency response efforts, while garbage and recycling collections are suspended.

Road and Travel Closures

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) advises drivers to stay updated via the FL511 app or website for potential road closures and detours. Early Thursday, officials announced significant road closures, including:

  • The John Ringling Causeway west of Bird Key
  • The entrance to Siesta Key (at Siesta Dr)
  • Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which has closed after winds reached 60 mph
  • Tampa International Airport has also suspended operations until conditions allow for safe reopening.

— Tampa International Airport ✈️ (@FlyTPA) September 25, 2024

Hospitals and Health Services

Healthcare facilities remain on high alert, with some operations curtailed. OneBlood has halted mobile blood drives in several Florida locations and has closed donor centers in response to the storm.

The Cancer Specialists of North Florida have announced closures of several offices starting at noon on Thursday, citing safety concerns.

— Cancer Specialists of North Florida (@_CSNF) September 25, 2024

Retail and Services

Will Publix Stay Open?

Publix grocery stores in impacted areas may modify their hours, depending on the storm’s progression.

Theme Parks

As of now, Disney World and Universal Studios remain open, although Universal’s Volcano Bay is closed today. Theme park officials are continuously monitoring the storm conditions and will make necessary adjustments to operations as needed.

— Universal Orlando Resort (@UniversalORL) September 25, 2024

Keep abreast of continuously updated information and resources as we navigate through Hurricane Helene’s impact on Florida. Stay safe, and heed the warnings and information from local authorities and government services.