Polk State will be closed Thursday and Friday due to Tropical Storm Helene
UPDATE Friday, September 27, 2024, 11:30 a.m. Polk State College will resume classes and normal operations on Saturday, September 28, following Hurricane Helene. Students and employees are advised to exercise caution while traveling to and from campuses.
Given that many members of the College community reside throughout Central Florida, some may still be facing challenges related to utility restoration, transportation, or childcare. Students are encouraged to communicate with their professors about any difficulties they may encounter.
Additionally, the College has compiled a list of community resources to assist in recovering from the impacts of the storm.
UPDATE Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 9:00 a.m.: Polk State College continues to closely monitor Tropical Storm Helene. The College and the collegiate high schools will remain open Wednesday until 5 p.m. but will be closed Thursday and Friday due to the storm. The closure affects all College operations including online and remote classes. The College will reopen for classes on Saturday, September 28.
At 7 a.m. Wednesday, Helene was just offshore the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, close to hurricane strength. The storm is about 100 miles west southwest of Cuba with maximum sustained winds at 70 mph and movement at approximately 9 mph, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Hurricane Center.
A flood watch remains in effect for Polk County on Wednesday through Friday morning. Heavy rains are forecast to begin this afternoon and continue through at least Thursday night, with widespread rain totals of 3 to 6 inches and localized totals of up to around 10 inches, according to Polk County Emergency Management. Below tropical storm force wind between 25 and 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph are anticipated.
The College’s Emergency Coordination Team will continue to meet daily to determine if closures need to be modified or extended. Updates will be provided on polk.edu and through local and social media.
Polk State urges everyone to sign up for AlertPolk and monitor messaging from Polk County Emergency Management, Florida Division of Emergency Management, and the National Hurricane Center.
UPDATE 4:47 P.M. SEPTEMBER 24: Tropical Storm Helene has formed in the Caribbean and will continue to strengthen as it moves north-northeast through Wednesday and Thursday, the Polk County Emergency Operations Center reported at 2 p.m., citing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Helene is expected to strengthen into a hurricane on Wednesday and reach the Gulf Coast of Florida late Thursday.
The National Weather Service in Tampa also issued a tropical storm watch for Polk County at 5:08 a.m. Tuesday. This means tropical-storm-force winds are possible within the next 48 hours. A flood watch starts Wednesday at 8 p.m. and runs through 8 a.m. Friday.
Polk County was added to the emergency declaration from the Governor’s Office on Tuesday morning.
The College will continue to monitor the storm. At this time, it is too soon to know of any impacts to College or collegiate high school operations. Updates will be provided on polk.edu and social media.
Polk State urges everyone to sign up for AlertPolk and monitor messaging from Polk County Emergency Management, Florida Division of Emergency Management, and the National Hurricane Center.
ORIGINAL POST 9 P.M. SEPTEMBER 23: Polk State College is monitoring potential Tropical Cyclone Nine and encourages students, faculty, staff, and members of the community to stay connected for updates from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the College.
As of 8 p.m. Monday, the weather disturbance was southwest of Grand Cayman. Strengthening is expected during the next few days, and the system is forecast to become a hurricane on Wednesday. Forecast tracks currently show landfall along the northern Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida. Current expected impacts to Polk County include localized flooding and high winds.
The College will continue to monitor the storm but at this time it is too soon to know of any impacts to College or collegiate high school operations. Updates will be provided on polk.edu and social media.
Polk State urges everyone to sign up for AlertPolk and monitor messaging from Polk County Emergency Management, Florida Division of Emergency Management, and the National Hurricane Center.
College officials also encourage students, faculty, and staff to ensure their contact information in Passport is up to date to receive emergency alerts from Polk State. Students should check under “My Details” and employees should check under “Personal” and “Change Contact Info.” Numbers entered in the “Cellular Number” field in the “Personal Information” section will be used for emergency voice and text messages. Although the College has recently transitioned from Passport to the Polk Portal for registration and financial aid, it is important to note that the emergency notification system is still connected to Passport, which remains accessible to students, faculty, and staff at this time.
Additionally, individuals are encouraged to review information on the Polk County Emergency Management website regarding emergency preparedness, emergency and special needs shelters, and more.