Hurricane Helene: Bay Area schools close due to storm

INVERNESS, Fla. - Schools across the Bay Area will be closed this week to open shelters due to Hurricane Helene.

Citrus County Schools

Citrus County schools will be closed on Thursday and Friday.

The Citrus County Sheriff's Office decided to open shelters starting Wednesday, September 25 at 2 p.m. Because some of the schools are used as hurricane shelters, all schools will be closed after the scheduled half-day on Wednesday, September 25.

READ: Gov. Ron DeSantis warns of ‘significant’ storm impacts in Florida

After-school programs and extracurricular activities are canceled beginning Wednesday through Friday, September 27.

The YMCA before and after-school programs will follow this schedule as well.

DeSoto County Schools

Schools are closed on Thursday, September 26.

Hardee County Schools

Hardee County schools will be closed on Thursday and will reopen on Friday.

Hernando County Schools

Hernando County schools will be closed on Wednesday, September 25, Thursday, September 26 and Friday, September 27. At this time, the school district is preparing schools to serve as storm shelters for area residents.

All after-school activities for Wednesday and Thursday will be canceled. Before and aftercare programs (YMCA and Boys & Girls Club) will not operate on those days.

Highlands County Schools

There will be a normal two-hour release school day and normal extracurriculars. There will not be school on Thursday, September 26.

School and extracurriculars will resume on Friday, September 27 as normal.

Hillsborough County Schools

Hillsborough County Schools will be closed on Wednesday, September 25, Thursday, September 26, and Friday, September 27 in anticipation of the storm. In addition, all after-school programs, athletics, and extracurricular activities are canceled for this Wednesday and Thursday.

Hillsborough Community College is closing at noon on September 25 through September 26. All afternoon and evening classes are canceled.

The University of South Florida canceled all classes at all USF campuses beginning on Wednesday and will not resume until Monday. Campuses will return to normal business operations (without classes) on Saturday.

The University of Tampa has also canceled classes for tomorrow through Friday. Weekend activities are still as scheduled, but classes won't resume until Monday, Sept. 30.

Keiser University Tampa will close at 2 p.m. on Wednesday and remain closed on Thursday.

Manatee County Schools

Manatee County schools will be closed on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Pasco County Schools

Schools in Pasco County will be closed on Thursday, September 26 and Friday, September 27, so five of the schools can open as emergency shelters.

Keiser University New Port Richey will close at 2 p.m. on Wednesday and remain closed on Thursday.

Pinellas County Schools

All Pinellas County Schools and offices will be closed on Wednesday, September 25 through Friday, September 27. All sports and school activities scheduled for Thursday, September 26 are canceled.

Keiser University Clearwater will close at 2 p.m. on Wednesday and remain closed on Thursday.

Polk County Schools

All Polk County public schools and offices will be closed on Thursday, Sept. 26, and Friday, Sept. 27.

All after-school programs and sports activities will be canceled or rescheduled. All after-school events will conclude by 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

Polk State College will be closed Thursday and Friday.

Sarasota County Schools

Sarasota County schools will close at the end of the day on Sept. 24, to allow for time to prepare schools that serve as emergency evacuation centers.

All traditional public schools will be closed for normal school operations from Wednesday, September 25 through Friday, September 27 due to the storm. This includes all after-school activities.

"We are ready to serve our community. We are coordinating with Sarasota County to provide shelter to our schools and personnel. We will continue to share updates with employees and families as more information about the storm and its potential impacts becomes available. Visit our website at sarasotacountyschools.net, and follow social media channels to stay updated," said Terry Connor, Superintendent of Schools.

Keiser University Sarasota will close at 2 p.m. on Wednesday and remain closed on Thursday.