Hurricane Michael is expected to strike the Panahandle and Big Bend region Wednesday as a Category 3 storm. Panama City, Apalachicola and Tallahassee could feel the brundt of the storm's damage. Evacuation notices, school closures and emergency shelter location is below.
Panhandle/Big Bend School District Closures
The following school districts have announced closures:
- Bay will be closed Tuesday (10/9) and Wednesday (10/10).
- Calhoun will be closed Tuesday (10/9) – Thursday (10/11).
- Citrus will be closed Tuesday (10/9) and Wednesday (10/10).
- Dixie will be closed Tuesday (10/9) – Thursday (10/11).
- Escambia will have early release Tuesday (10/9) and remain closed Wednesday (10/10).
- Florida A&M High will be closed Tuesday (10/9) – Friday (10/12).
- Florida State University Schools (Florida High) will be closed Tuesday (10/9) – Friday (10/12).
- Franklin will be closed Tuesday (10/9) - Friday (10/12).
- Gadsden will be closed Tuesday (10/9) – Friday (10/12).
- Gilchrist will be closed Tuesday (10/9) and Wednesday (10/10).
- Gulf will be closed Tuesday (10/9) – Friday (10/12) and will re-open after Fall Break, on Wednesday, 10/17.
- Holmes will be closed Tuesday (10/9) – Thursday (10/11).
- Jackson will be closed Tuesday (10/9) and Wednesday (10/10).
- Jefferson will be closed Tuesday (10/9) and Wednesday (10/10).
- Leon will be closed Tuesday (10/9) – Friday (10/12).
- Levy will be closed Wednesday (10/10) and Thursday (10/11).
- Liberty will be closed Tuesday (10/9) – Thursday (10/11).
- Madison will be closed Tuesday (10/9) – Thursday (10/11).
- Okaloosa will be closed Tuesday (10/9) and Wednesday (10/10).
- Santa Rosa will have early release Tuesday (10/9) and remain closed Wednesday (10/10).
- Suwannee will be closed Tuesday (10/9) – Thursday (10/11).
- Taylor will be closed Tuesday (10/9) – Thursday (10/11).
- Wakulla will be closed Tuesday (10/9) – Friday (10/12).
- Walton will be closed Tuesday (10/9) and Wednesday (10/10).
College/University Closures:
- Chipola College will be closed Tuesday (10/9) and Wednesday (10/10).
- Florida A&M University will be closed Tuesday (10/9) – Friday (10/12).
- Florida State University will be closed Tuesday (10/9) – Friday (10/12).
- Gulf Coast State College will close at 5 p.m. Monday (10/8) and remain closed Tuesday (10/9) and Wednesday (10/10).
- North Florida Community College will close at 3 p.m. Tuesday (10/9) and remain closed Wednesday (10/10) and Thursday (10/11).
- Northwest Florida State College will be closed Tuesday (10/9) and Wednesday (10/10).
- Pensacola State College will close at 4 p.m. Tuesday (10/9) and remain closed Wednesday (10/10)
- Tallahassee Community College will be closed Tuesday (10/9) through Friday, 10/12.
- The University of West Florida will close at noon Tuesday (10/9) and remain closed Wednesday (10/10).
Evacuation Notices:
Though the below evacuation orders are current and in effect, everyone should check with their local emergency management office or website for the most up to date information regarding evacuations as they are constantly being updated.
- Bay County- Mandatory evacuation orders are now in place for zones A, B, and C. Residents living in these areas should evacuate before 6 am tomorrow.
- Franklin County- A Mandatory Evacuation has been issued for ALL RESIDENTS.
- Gulf County- Mandatory Evacuation was issued for the following areas:
- All of Cape San Blas
- All of Indian Pass Area
- Simmons Bayou, Highland View
- Windmark
- In the city of Port St. Joe, all areas from St. Joseph Bay to Long Avenue
- St. Joe Beach and Beacon Hill- Waterside of Highway 98
- Those with high profile vehicles, living in mobile homes, low lying areas, or anyone who feels unsafe in their current location
- Hernando County- Voluntary evacuation order for coastal zone levels A and B for Tuesday beginning at 8 a.m.
- Leon County- a Voluntary/Phased evacuation has been issued for mobile homes and low lying flood prone areas.
- Liberty County- Voluntary evacuations for mobile homes, sub-standard housing and low lying areas.
- Santa Rosa County- Voluntary evacuations for mobile home parks, campsites and low lying areas.
- Gadsden County- Mandatory Evacuation for Mobile Homes in Midway, Quincy, Havana, Greensboro, Gretna, Chattahoochee and unincorporated areas of the county.
Emergency Shelters:
Emergency shelters are open across the Big Bend
- Leon County
- Leon High School
- Chiles High School
- SAIL High School
- Lincoln High School
- Ft. Braden Elementary
Gadsden County
- East Gasden High School
- West Gadsden High
- Havana Magnet School;
Liberty County
- Toler K-8 School
Taylor County
