Schools and businesses in the Midlands prepare for the arrival of Tropical Storm Debby.
As Tropical Storm Debby approaches, the Midlands is preparing for impact with schools and businesses closing or adjusting operations. Families are urged to prioritize safety amidst heavy rains and strong winds expected across South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia. School districts are switching to e-learning, while various local businesses are closing their doors temporarily. Community leaders are reminding residents to stay informed and safe during this weather event.
The Midlands is buzzing with preparations as Tropical Storm Debby approaches, prompting several school districts and businesses to announce closures. Residents are urged to stay safe as the storm is predicted to bring heavy rains, flooding, and strong winds across South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia this week.
For families in the area, school schedules are being dramatically affected. The Calhoun County School District will be switching to e-learning for Tuesday and Wednesday, ensuring that students can continue their studies from home. Meanwhile, the Clarendon County School District will resume in-person classes on Friday, but with a two-hour delay. Similarly, Fairfield County students can expect a two-hour delay as they return to their classrooms on Friday.
Several districts have opted for online learning to keep students safe. The Kershaw County School District has scheduled an e-learning day on Thursday, and Lee County will carry on with e-learning on Friday. The Lexington School District One is closing down on Thursday and has canceled all after-school activities. A decision regarding classes on Friday is still pending.
Another pause for the students in Lexington School District Two as they too are shut down on Thursday following the weather forecasts. For those in Lexington School District Three, e-learning will be in effect on Thursday, while Lexington School District Four has completely canceled classes for that day, promising to make it up later as an e-learning day.
Closing up shop for a day, Lexington-Richland School District Five‘s schools and offices will be shutting their doors on Thursday, although they plan to resume operations on Friday, the first day for many students this school year. Newberry County schools will maintain a regular schedule on Wednesday and Thursday, while Orangeburg County will also see classes resume on Friday, albeit with a two-hour delay.
The Richland County School District One is closing for Thursday and will operate on a two-hour delay on Friday. After the storm passes, Richland County School District Two anticipates returning to normal operations on Friday, ensuring students receive their education without further interruptions. The Sumter School District will join in reopening on Friday with a one-hour delay.
Businesses in the Midlands are also taking a proactive stance against Debby. Midlands Technical College has announced that all campuses will close on Thursday, while Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College will be doing the same. Thankfully, South Carolina State University intends to resume operations by Thursday at noon.
City amenities are not left untouched either. The City of Cayce is closing all parks, including the beloved Cayce Riverwalk, until further notice. Additionally, Cayce City Hall and the Municipal Court will also be closed on Thursday. Columbia has even released a list of streets prone to flooding and encourages residents to avoid these areas during the storm.
Parks in West Columbia are locking their gates as of Tuesday to keep the community safe. The Richland County Recreation Commission will also close its facilities starting Tuesday, while the Richland Library has canceled all events and closed its doors for Thursday.
In other local news, Bart’s Crazy Good Coffee has closed its location at 7949 Broad River Road in Irmo, although the shop in Ballantine remains open and thriving. This location was previously known as Tribal Coffee Co. before Bart’s took over in August 2023, having first opened a store back in Chapin in 2020.
As the Midlands community prepares for the storm, it’s important for everyone to stay informed, stay safe, and help each other out. Let’s hope everyone weathers this storm safely!
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