CLOSINGS & CANCELLATIONS: Schools, offices monitoring potential impacts from Idalia

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A second Lowcountry-area school district has announced changes ahead of the arrival of Idalia in the Lowcountry.

The Orangeburg and Williamsburg County School Districts adjusted their schedules for Wednesday when the first of the effects of Idalia, which is expected to make landfall in Florida as a major hurricane, begin moving across South Carolina.

Other districts in the area say they are monitoring forecasts and speaking with emergency management officials to help the decision-making process.

Lowcountry school districts, colleges

Charleston County School District

• Wednesday: The district will move to half day.
• Thursday: The district will have an eLearning/remote work day. All school and district buildings will be closed
• Kaleidoscope and all other extracurricular activities and afterschool programs scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday are canceled.
• The Constituent District 3 community meeting for James Island is also canceled. The district will be in touch once the event is rescheduled.
• Subject to change, pending conditions, high school athletics (only) are still being held Thursday with an arrival time no earlier than 3:30 p.m. on campuses.

Berkeley County School District

• Wednesday: The district will follow the half-day dismissal bell schedule.
• Thursday: The District will operate as an eLearning Day. All schools and offices will be closed on Thursday and will resume operations Friday. Students will complete eLearning assignments from home via Schoology, Google Classroom, SeeSaw, or other designated virtual learning platforms. Specific information about assignments will be provided by the student’s teacher and/or school. Teachers will share information regarding their office hours to support students in completing eLearning assignments at home.
• Before and after-school care programs, activities, and athletics, to include practices and games, are canceled for Wednesday and Thursday. Normal activities and operations will resume on Friday.
• The district will not operate virtual feeding sites on Wednesday or Thursday.

Dorchester School District Two

• Wednesday - eLearning day
• Thursday - eLearning day
• All extracurricular activities and afterschool programs scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday are canceled.

Dorchester School District Four

• Wednesday - eLearning day
• Thursday - eLearning day
• Friday - eLearning day
• All district buildings closed

Colleton County School District

• Wednesday: eLearning. All schools and district offices closed. All school activities and athletics are canceled.
• Thursday: eLearning. All schools and district offices closed. All school activities and athletics are canceled.

Beaufort County School District

• Wednesday: The district will operate an eLearning and remote workday.
• Thursday: The district will operate an eLearning and remote workday.

The district said remote learning and work would be dependent on electricity and internet. District buildings will be closed on both days.

Georgetown County School District

• Wednesday: All after-school activities canceled.
• Thursday: eLearning day. Pre-K - 2nd grade students will receive paper packets, and 3rd - 12th grade students will be assigned lessons through Google Classroom.
• Athletic practices (not requiring bus transportation) may resume on Thursday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. Athletic competitions scheduled for Thursday afternoon are canceled and/or postponed due to wind gusts that may exceed allowable speeds for bus operation. Student-athletes are encouraged to coordinate with their coaches for specific details.

Orangeburg County School District

• Wednesday: Kindergarten through fifth-grade elementary schools dismiss at 11:30 a.m. (with the exception of Dover Elementary School, which will dismiss at 12:30 p.m.) Middle schools, K-12 schools and Middle High schools will dismiss at 12:30 p.m. High schools will dismiss at 1 p.m. (with the exception of Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School, which will dismiss at 1:30 p.m. All afterschool programs and athletic events, including practices and games, will be canceled Wednesday.
• Thursday: UPDATE: The district will hold an eLearning day on Thursday based on the expectation that a significant number of roads in the county will still be impassable by Thursday morning, particularly in the eastern portion of the district. All afterschool programs and athletic events, including practices and games, are canceled.
• Friday: Students and staff are expected to return to their respective schools and offices on Friday following their regular schedule.

Williamsburg County School District

• Wednesday - The district will operate on a half-day.
• Thursday - Schools will be closed and the day will be treated as an inclement weather day.
• Friday - The district will operate on a two-hour delay.

The Citadel

• Wednesday: Classes will move to an online, synchronous format. Cadets and students will attend their classes remotely at their regularly scheduled time.
• Extracurricular events scheduled for Wednesday are canceled.

Charleston School of Cosmetology

• The Charleston School of Cosmetology will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday.

Charleston School of Law

• The Charleston School of Law will be closed all day on Wednesday through Thursday at 1 p.m.
• All classes on Wednesday as well as those on Thursday morning will be held via Zoom. Regular in-person classes will resume at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
• All in-person events on Wednesday through 1 p.m. on Thursday are canceled.
• Full-time employees should work remotely during the closure period, if feasible. Student workers, including the Library’s student workers, should not report to work during the closure period.
• While the plan is to be fully operational by Thursday afternoon, outside circumstances—such as power outages, Internet outages, and flooding—may make this impossible, school spokesman John Strubel said. If changes need to be made to the plan described above, the school will notify students and faculty via email and text alerts.

Charleston Southern University

• Charleston Southern is holding online learning on Wednesday and Thursday. Students should consult Blackboard for specific directions from professors.
• The Dining Hall will remain open for continuous service. However, all other offices and the Rivers Library will be closed to students and visitors. In accordance with the CSU Emergency Plan, essential personnel will remain on campus for student support and emergency response purposes.
• Residential students should remain indoors as weather conditions worsen and read the emergency procedures about storm shelter locations on campus. Students who decide to leave should do so before inclement weather begins. Do not attempt to travel in the storm.
• Faculty and staff will receive further communication regarding work expectations.
• CSU is not planning for evacuation. Residential students may remain on campus.

Claflin College

• Claflin College will close at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
• Claflin University administrative offices will reopen and classes will resume regular schedules on Thursday beginning at 11 a.m.

College of Charleston

• Classes will move to an e-learning model from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Wednesday. After 1 p.m. Wednesday, all classes events and activities are canceled for the remainder of the day on Wednesday and for all of Thursday.
• College offices and services will close beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday through Thursday. The College expects to resume normal operations and in-person academic schedules on Friday at 8 a.m. The campus community will be updated on re-opening details after a post-storm assessment of the campus has been completed.

Dorchester County Career and Technology Center

• The Dorchester County Career and Technology Center will be moving to eLearning day procedures on Wednesday and Thursday.

ECPI

• ECPI University classes for Wednesday night and Thursday will be virtual. The campus will be closed Wednesday after 1 p.m. and all day on Thursday.

First Baptist School of Charleston

• First Baptist School of Charleston’s Downtown and James Island campuses will close at noon on Wednesday and will be closed on Thursday. All after-school activities and athletic practices and events have been cancelled for Wednesday and Thursday.

Medical University of South Carolina

• The University will operate remotely all day Wednesday and Thursday. The MUSC Wellness Center and the MUSC Library will also be closed all day Wednesday and Thursday. The physical campus will be closed to workers who are not designated as critical to be present on campus during the weather event.

Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College

• Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College will close at noon on Wednesday. All afternoon and evening classes are canceled beginning at noon for the remainder of the day. The college will reopen at 11 a.m. Thursday. Classes will be held beginning at 11 a.m. as scheduled.

South Carolina State University

• South Carolina State University will dismiss classes and non-essential employees at noon on Wednesday. Afternoon and evening classes on Wednesday will be canceled.
• The university also will operate on a two-hour delay Thursday with classes resuming at 10 a.m. Offices will open at 10:30 a.m.
• Students who remain on campus Wednesday night should expect to shelter in their residence halls during the storm’s peak periods while staying away from windows.

Trident Technical College

• All Trident Technical College campuses will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday. Classes and services will be virtual.

University of South Carolina Salkehatchie

• Classes at the Walterboro and Allendale campuses are canceled Wednesday and Thursday. The campus will remain open until 12 p.m. Wednesday.

Government offices

Beaufort County

• Beaufort County buildings and programs will be closed Wednesday and Thursday. Beaufort County schools will be closed as well. Emergency services will remain available throughout.
• Convenience Centers are closed Wednesday and Thursday in preparation of the storm.
• County Parks and Recreation programs are canceled
• Hilton Head Island Airport and Beaufort Executive Airport are operating normally at this time, however as Hurricane Idalia approaches, travelers need to check with their carriers for any possible flight delays and cancellations. Air travelers are encouraged to download their respective airline apps on their mobile devices & to enable notifications so they are sure to receive the latest official word from their airline. Travelers are encouraged to check their airlines for waivers, as well.

“As we closely monitor the trajectory of Hurricane Idalia, County residents can rest assured that every appropriate County department is fully engaged in preparations to ensure the safety and security of our community,” Interim County Administrator John Robinson said.

City of Beaufort

• City offices will be closed to the public on Wednesday and Thursday. But Police, Fire and Public Works Departments will be at full staff to prepare for and respond to the storm.
• Capital Waste expects to pick up trash/recycling through 2 p.m. Wednesday, depending on the weather. Bring your bins in at that time. It is very likely there will be no service on Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, Capital Waste will catch up on missed routes. Capital Waste is performing bulk pickups throughout the City of Beaufort that have already been requested through its ticket system. Please do not submit new bulk pickup requests until the storm has passed.

Town of Bluffton

• Offices closed to the public Wednesday and Thursday. Staff will work remotely.

City of Charleston

• City offices, including all recreation facilities and the City Gallery, will close at noon on Wednesday.
• The West Ashley Farmers Market scheduled for Wednesday has been canceled.
• The following city parking garages will be open to the public to park their cars for free during the storm. The garages are open for cars only, not boats, trailers of golf carts. In order to take advantage of the free storm parking, cars must be parked after 10 a.m. on Wednesday and removed by 11 a.m. on Thursday:
  • Aquarium parking garage (24 Calhoun Street)
  • Limited space is available at the Visitor Center parking garage (63 Mary Street)
  • Limited space is available at the Queen Street parking garage (93 Queen Street)
  • East Bay/Prioleau parking garage (25 Prioleau Street)
  • 99 West Edge parking garage (99 West Edge Street)
  • Charleston Tech Center parking garage (997 Morrison Drive)

Charleston Area National Park Sites

• Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and Charleston Pinckney National Historical Site have temporarily closed. All concession-operated ferry trips to Fort Sumter have been suspended and no special park use permits will be issued until further notice.

All closures will remain in place until severe weather passes, and the National Park Service conducts post-storm assessments to determine that employee and visitor facilities are safe. Status of the parks will be posted as an alert on the park’s websites.

Charleston County Parks

• Charleston County Parks will close parks and facilities at 12 p.m. on Wednesday and all day Thursday.

Charleston County Public Library

• All Charleston County Public Library Branches will close at 1 p.m. Wednesday and remain closed on Thursday.

Book drops and automated material returns will also be closed during this time. Patrons are asked to not leave items outside of the book drops. As a reminder, patrons may still access our digital resources during the closures by visiting ccpl.org.

Charleston International Airport

• Charleston International Airport’s tower will close at 6 p.m. Wednesday and reopen at 8 a.m. on Thursday. Airline partners are adjusting their flight operations and it looks like the last arriving and departing flights will take place prior to the tower closing. Travelers should contact their airlines for questions involving delays, cancellations and rebooking.

Dorchester County

• All Dorchester County Administrative Offices and Dorchester County Courts will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday.
• All Dorchester County Convenience Sites are regularly closed on Wednesdays. As long as site conditions allow, Convenience Sites are planning to reopen on Thursday on their regular schedules.
• Ashley River Park will be closing at 5 p.m. on Tuesday so that staff can finish preparing the park for the incoming storm. All Dorchester County Parks will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday. All parks are planning to reopen on Friday as long as they are safe to do so.
• All Dorchester County Public Libraries will be closed on Wednesday, August 30. Library staff will assess any damages and provide updates for opening the libraries after the storm has passed.
• Dorchester County Animal Control is unable to transport stray animals as Dorchester Paw’s Pet Support Service Department (intake office) will be closed Wednesday through Saturday.
• The Faith Sellers Senior Center and the David Sojourner Senior Center will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday.

International African American Museum

• The International African American Museum will be closed Wednesday and Thursday. All programs and special events scheduled for those two days are postponed until further notice. Ticketholders who booked reservations to visit the museum on Wednesday or Thursday will receive automatic refunds within five to seven business days.

Joint Base Charleston

• Joint Base Charleston will transition to Hurricane Condition 3 as of 3 p.m. Tuesday.
• The base will continue to secure property that may be exposed to storm conditions.

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

• Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort has entered Tropical Cyclone Condition II and is currently taking actions to secure property in the event that Hurricane Idalia nears MCAS Beaufort facilities. TCC II is established when a destructive weather system with sustained winds of 58 mph or greater is forecasted to affect the area within 24 hours.
• Air station personnel should continue preparing for the possible arrival of the storm, which may necessitate evacuation of the local area. No order has been given for evacuation at this time. Air station personnel should not evacuate unless ordered to do so by air station leadership.
• During TCC II, air station personnel will continue precautionary preparations to secure property. Air station personnel should secure any outdoor items that have the potential to become projectiles (trampolines, garbage cans, etc.) in a storm.
• Air station personnel should continue to prepare for any prolonged storm effects and extended power outages by finalizing your family disaster kit, preparing your home, and planning for the care of your family and pets.

City of North Charleston

• City offices and court offices close at noon on Wednesday and will reopen Friday morning.
• The city’s Citizen Information Line is operational at 843-740-5883 and is available for Spanish speaking residents at 843-740-5887.
• Sandbag operations are complete. No further sandbags will be distributed. The designated shelter for residents is located at 3841 Leeds Avenue. The shelter will be open from 10 a.m. on Wednesday to 10 a.m. on Thursday. Pets are allowed, but residents must stay with their animals and cannot drop them off. Remember to bring comfort items with you to the shelter. If you plan to relocate to the shelter, please bring the following items:
  • Bedding
  • Clothing
  • Medication
  • Your child’s stuffed animal
  • Blanket
  • Emergency kit

Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum

• Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum will temporarily close to visitors Wednesday and Thursday. It will reopen Friday.
• “Our highest priority is the safety of our visitors, staff and the preservation of our historical collection of artifacts,” Patriots Point Executive Director Allison Hunt said. “In light of the approaching hurricane, we have taken the necessary step to close our doors and batten down the hatches of our historic vessels. We look forward to reopening the museum as soon as the coast is clear and it is safe to do so.”

South Carolina Aquarium

• The South Carolina Aquarium will be closed Wednesday and Thursday. Staff members anticipate the aquarium reopening on Friday.

Businesses and Facilities

Carolina Ice Palace

• Carolina Ice Palace will close at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. It plans to reopen at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

DoorDash

DoorDash has activated its severe weather protocol and has suspended operations in cities across South Carolina, including Hilton Head, Beaufort and Ridgeland. Operations will be suspended from 8:30 a.m. Wednesday through 10 a.m. Thursday, depending on weather and conditions on the ground.

International African American Museum

• The International African American Museum will be closed Wednesday and Thursday. All events scheduled for those days have been postponed.
• Ticketholders who have reservations for Wednesday and Thursday will receive automatic refunds. Refunds should be expected within five to seven business days.

MUSC

• The University will operate remotely all day Wednesday and Thursday. The MUSC Wellness Center and the MUSC Library will also be closed all day Wednesday and Thursday. The physical campus will be closed to workers who are not designated as critical to be present on campus during the weather event.
• MUSC’s Charleston hospitals will operate in “defend in place” with no closures. Emergency operations status will begin at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
• MUSC’s College of Dental Medicine clinics will close at noon on Wednesday and plan to open Thursday morning with normal hours.
• All MUSC clinics will close at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
• On-Peninsula clinics will re-open at noon on Thursday, and off-peninsula clinics will operate under normal hours on Thursday.

Publix

The following Lowcountry Publix stores will close at 1 p.m. Wednesday. They are expected to reopen Thursday at 9 a.m., depending on conditions.

• Daniel Island Town Center, 162 Seven Farms Drive, Charleston
• Ashley Landing Mall, 1401 Sam Rittenburg Blvd., Charleston
• Merchants Village, 520 Folly Road, Charleston
• 10 Westedge, 10 Westedge Street, Charleston
• Riverland Market, 1411 Folly Road, Charleston
• Point Hope Commons, 730 Hopewell Dr., Charleston
• St. James Shopping Center, 208C St. James Ave., Goose Creek
• West Ashley Place, 3642 Savannah Highway, Johns Island
• Moncks Corner Marketplace, 2830 Highway 52, Moncks Corner
• Queensborough Shopping Center, 1000 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Mount Pleasant
• Publix at North Point, 1435 Ben Sawyer Blvd., Mount Pleasant
• The Shoppes of Park West, 1125 Park West Blvd., Mount Pleasant
• Palmetto Pavaillion, 8409 Dorchester Road, North Charleston
• Oakbrook Shopping Center, 1575 Old Trolley Road, Summerville
• Paradise Shoppes of Summerville, 1585 Central Ave., Summerville
• The Market at Cane Bay, 1724 State Road, Summerville

Roper St. Francis Healthcare

• Roper St. Francis Physician Partners:
  • Clinics and Express Cares will close Wednesday at 4 p.m.
  • Clinics and practices will be virtual-only on Thursday. No in-person visits.
  • Express Cares will have a delayed opening on Thursday afternoon for in-person visits
• Roper St. Francis will move to an emergent and urgent surgical and procedural schedule for all four of its hospitals all day Thursday. All other procedures will be rescheduled.
• Beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, the garages will be open through Thursday morning.

Wells Fargo

• Wells Fargo has closed branches in Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown and Horry Counties as of noon Wednesday. Decisions on when the branches will reopen will be announced.

TRACKING IDALIA COVERAGE:

FIRST ALERT: Tropical storm warning in effect along SC coast, Idalia strengthening

‘We’re thoroughly prepared’: McMaster declares state of emergency ahead of Idalia

CLOSINGS & CANCELLATIONS: School districts monitoring potential impacts of Hurricane Idalia

THE LIST: Sandbag distribution locations in the Lowcountry

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