Some Florida schools remain closed until Wednesday; all universities open Monday
Florida State University on July 21, 2022. Credit: Danielle J. Brown
All 12 state universities have reopened following Hurricane Helene, as have most of K-12 public school districts.
Florida A&M University, Florida State University, New College of Florida, and the University of South Florida reopened Monday; they were the last of the universities that closed on Thursday and Friday.
The University of Florida, Florida Polytechnic University, University of North Florida, and Florida Gulf Coast University reopened Saturday.
The University of Central Florida, Florida Atlantic University, and the University of West Florida closed Thursday and reopened Friday.
"I am proud of our university leadership who took decisive steps to protect our more than 430,000 students and the campuses that were in the path of Hurricane Helene," said State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues in a news release . "It is thanks to their action and the work of numerous staff members that our students were safe throughout the storm and all of our campuses were able to reopen."
At New College, "Storm surge was significant across Robertson Park, the College Hall Lawn, and the Caples Waterfront, and significant amounts of debris are being removed," according to the university .
UF President Kent Fuchs said its campus was "spared" and received only minor damage.
FSU officials said "personnel worked tirelessly" cleaning debris and making repairs.
According to the Department of Education, eight state colleges reopened Monday. Florida Gateway College in Lake City will reopen Tuesday, and North Florida College in Madison will reopen Wednesday.
The department's storm information website lists 38 districts that reopened Monday, several of which served as emergency evacuation shelters for community members. Two other districts, Levy and Pinellas, reopened almost all facilities Monday, leaving four schools closed.
Dixie, Columbia, Gilchrist, and Jefferson counties will reopen their schools on Tuesday and Taylor, Lafayette, Hamilton, and Suwannee counties will reopen on Wednesday.
