Hurricane Helene has caused several schools and universities in the CSRA to temporarily close in the aftermath of weather damage.
Richmond County School System
Announced Saturday afternoon, the Richmond County School System will have schools and offices remain closed through Friday, Oct. 4, to focus on addressing community needs.
“The Richmond County School System (RCSS) hopes that our community continues to stay safe as we recover from the damages caused by Hurricane Helene,” stated a RCSS press release.
Outside of essential staff, RCSS employees are expected not to report to work, and e-learning will not be possible due to continued power outages in the community.
“Since yesterday, our school system has focused on assessing our schools and offices for damages, communicating with local agencies to determine an estimated time for power restoration, and extending resources to the community for disaster relief,” stated a RCSS press release.
The RCSS is encouraging the community to monitor official channels for updates and resources, including Georgia Power, the Augusta, Georgia Government, and the Augusta, Georgia Fire/Emergency Management Agency.
“We will share more updates as information becomes available through RCSS social media profiles and the local media,” stated a RCSS press release.
Columbia County School District
Columbia County School District announced on Sunday, Sept. 29 that schools would remain closed through Friday, Oct. 4.
“First, I hope this message finds you safe and well. I know these are difficult days, and we all look forward to a return to normalcy. As our community continues to assess the devasting impact left by Hurricane Helene, know that our school district is also working to identify the extent of damages to our schools and facilities.
Based on recent reports and anticipated long-term power outages, we will extend the closure of schools through at least Friday, October 4, 2024.
We will continue to provide updates in the coming days, as quickly as possible, regarding the state of our schools. This includes staff options for returning to work in a safe manner, as well as updates on plans for makeup athletic events and other student activities. Information will be shared on our websites and with local news media.
Meanwhile, please continue to remain safe during clean-up efforts. This type of traumatic event is hard on us all, especially our children. With that in mind, keep focusing on your families, loved ones, and those who may be in need,” said the statement from Superintendent Dr. Steven Flynt.
McDuffie County Schools
Due to prolonged power outages caused by Hurricane Helene, according to a brief email from McDuffie County, schools are anticipated to remain closed through Friday, Oct. 4.
“District officials will continue to reassess the situation daily,” stated the email. “Any necessary changes will be announced as soon as possible.”
The University of South Carolina Aiken
The University of South Carolina Aiken announced effective Saturday that all events, classes and programs are canceled through Tuesday evening.
“As you know, the University of South Carolina Aiken and surrounding communities were significantly impacted by Hurricane Helene,” stated a press release from USCA.
At this time, USCA stated the campus did not receive any significant damage.
“Our residential students are safe and our food service provider, Aramark, continues to provide hot meals to our on-campus students,” stated a press release from USCA.
Power has been restored to the campus as well, excluding the residence halls. However, USCA stated the power company has indicated work to bring the residence halls “back online as soon as possible.”
The USCA chancellor is expected to provide another update Sunday afternoon.
“He encourages all students, faculty and staff to remain safe and follow all local and state directives,” stated a press release from USCA.
Those interested in updates are encouraged to check their USCA email and the university website for weather-related updates.
