Highlands County: Idalia updates and emergency information

Follow ongoing updates from Highlands County in response to Hurricane Idalia.

You can get information directly from the Highlands County EOC.

Evacuations

No evacuations have been announced yet.

Highlands schools status

Normal operations at all schools and district offices on Tuesday, except for the Highlands Career Institute. There will not be classes for HCI students on Tuesday. Highlands Career Institute staff are to report to work at SFSC. The daycare will remain open.

Sports teams may practice until 6 p.m., but all games are canceled.

All schools and district offices are closed on Wednesday and all afterschool and school-related activities are canceled.

All schools and district offices are open for normal operations on Thursday and all extracurricular and school related activities will resume.

Other closings

County offices, the three local libraries and Fire Rescue administrative offices are closed Wednesday, Aug. 30, and will reopen Thursday, Aug. 31.

Sandbag locations

Starting at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, sand for sandbags will be available at South George Boulevard just north of the Emergency Operations Center (6850 W. George Blvd., Sebring). 

Officials ask residents to bring a shovel and a partner to help if needed since the location will not be distributing premade sandbags. 

Sandbags are available at local hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowes, according to Highlands County.

Trash collections

As of right now, the County Landfill and garbage collection services will continue Wednesday. Because higher winds are expected overnight, officials recommend residents wait to place their garbage carts out for collection until 7 a.m. Wednesday morning. Collection crews will start picking up after 7 a.m.

LINK: Get updates on Idalia's track and forecast on MyFoxHurricane.com