PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – School districts in Northwest Florida have issued statements regarding upcoming weather conditions.

Schools in Franklin County:

Due to the developing storm in the Gulf of Mexico and the increasing likelihood of significant impacts to Franklin Countywe are taking precautions to ensure the safety of our students, staff and families.

This afternoon, Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Franklin County and 41 other counties in Florida. After consulting with the Franklin County Emergency Operations Center and our neighboring school districts, we have made the following decisions:

School closure: There will be no classes on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (25, 26 and 27 September).

Excused Staff: All staff are excused on these days to focus on their personal safety and preparations.

Postponed/Cancelled Sports Events: All sporting events scheduled for Wednesday through Friday have been postponed or cancelled.

Resumption of school operations: School operations will resume on Monday, September 30, conditions permitting.

Please check local emergency alerts and use this time to prepare for the potential impacts of the storm. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Stay healthy and take all necessary precautions. We look forward to welcoming you all back on Monday, September 30th.

Schools in the Gulf District:

We We are working with local emergency management authorities and are closely monitoring the possibility of a hurricane in our area later this week. We will continue to update you as new information becomes available. Please use this time to make the necessary preparations in case immediate action is required.

Schools in the Bay District:

That’s all We for today. There will be an update tomorrow.

As we monitor the potential approaching tropical weather system, we understand the concern this is causing in our community. Bay District Schools is committed to staying informed and prepared, and we are actively participating in calls with state and local weather experts to stay ahead of the situation.

The safety of our students, staff and community remains our top priority. The decision whether or not to cancel classes is a significant one and impacts thousands of families and businesses across the region. We do not make this decision lightly, but we assure you that we will make the best and most informed decision as quickly as possible.

We await more data from the Hurricane Hunter aircraft flying into the storm this afternoon and evening. This information will give our meteorologists and emergency management officials a more accurate forecast so we can make the best decisions possible. Superintendent McQueen will provide an update at noon tomorrow with the latest information, including possible plan changes.

We will continue to update the public regularly and encourage everyone to remain calm and prepared as we navigate this situation together. Thank you for your understanding and trust as we navigate this situation.

Walton County School District:

We understand that weather conditions for Invest 97L are changing rapidly. The Walton County School District is monitoring the storm and working closely with local and state weather authorities. Please closely monitor our social media channels for updates.

Okaloosa County School District:

District officials We are in regular contact with Okaloosa County Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox and are tracking a tropical disturbance, recently became Invest 97L, in the western Caribbean. It is too early to determine the final intensity, track, or specific locations in the path of this system at this time as these details will be difficult to ascertain until the system organizes with a clearly defined circulation. Rainfall amounts, winds, and the extent of storm surge potential in our area will ultimately depend on the path of the storm. Based on the information we have received from Director Maddox and keeping student safety as our priority, we will continue to work with the County Emergency Operations Center to monitor the impacts of Invest 97L and will continue to provide updates as needed.

Holmes County School Board:

We are monitoring the tropical disturbance in the northwestern Caribbean. According to the National Weather Service, the chance of development in the next 2 to 3 days is now at 90%. Once a center forms, forecasts become more certain and can change quickly. Residents should prepare for a hurricane that will potentially have significant impacts on the northern and eastern Gulf Coast.

We are closely monitoring the situation and will promptly inform the public if school closures are necessary. We encourage everyone to monitor all emergency management notifications and weather warnings and remember the importance of remaining calm and considering all consequences.

God bless you and stay safe.

Jackson County School District:

The Jackson County School District is aware of the potential weather impacts later this week. We will be in contact with our local emergency management office in the coming days. Please take this time to make sure your weather preparation packages are ready. Stay up to date on the weather in your area through the U.S. National Weather Service Tallahassee Florida and other local weather services.

Liberty County School District:

We are closely monitoring the weather for a possible Hurricane Helene this week. The Liberty County Emergency Management Agency, Liberty County Sheriff’s Office and I are working together to make the best plans for the future in light of any potential impacts to our area later this week. As usual, I will announce any school closures on ParentSquare, through local media channels, on the school’s Facebook pages and on my personal Facebook page.

All shelter locations will be announced by Liberty County Emergency Management and I will be sharing that as well. I would strongly encourage you to stock up on hurricane supplies today and tomorrow before we feel the effects of the storm sometime Wednesday evening. Governor DeSantis just declared a state of emergency for 41 counties, including Liberty County.

We need to prepare for this! Remember, Hurricane Michael was a small storm on a Sunday in 2018 and quickly became a Category 5 storm when it made landfall the following Wednesday.

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