OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. — Public schools in Okaloosa and Walton counties will be closed Thursday and Friday as Isaias approaches the northern Gulf Coast, bringing the potential for high winds, storm surge, flash flooding, and tornadoes.
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Okaloosa County School District officials announced Wednesday afternoon that schools will be closed Oct. 8 and Oct. 9 because of anticipated weather conditions and evacuation protocols.
District officials said they remain in close communication with Okaloosa Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox as they monitor the storm.
Weather experts expect the area could begin experiencing high winds, storm surge, flash flooding and the potential for tornadoes as early as midday Friday, according to the district. The system is expected to make landfall along the northern Gulf Coast as a high-end Category 1 or Category 2 hurricane Friday evening or early Saturday morning.
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Okaloosa Public Safety will open shelters as needed, and one of the district’s schools could potentially be used as a shelter, according to the announcement.
The district said closing schools Thursday and Friday will help reduce additional traffic on area roads during possible evacuations while giving families and school employees time to prepare for the storm.
Individual schools will communicate directly with families about athletic events, extracurricular activities and other school events that may be affected.
Monday, Oct. 12, was already scheduled as a Teacher Workday. Classes are expected to resume Tuesday, Oct. 13.
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Walton County School District also announced that all campuses will be closed Thursday and Friday because of anticipated impacts from Isaias.
The Walton closure includes all extracurricular activities, including athletic games, practices, and club meetings.
District officials said the closures will give families time to prepare and follow guidance from Walton County Emergency Management.
Both school districts said they will provide additional updates through their websites and social media channels. Okaloosa County School District also plans to provide updates through text messages and callouts.
School officials urged families to continue monitoring official information as the storm approaches.
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