Schools to be closed Monday
(This article was updated at 5:45 p.m. Aug. 25 with more information from the Sarasota County Public Schools.)
The Sarasota County Emergency Operations Center has moved up to Level 2 activation, the county has announced, with emergency management officials having begun preparations for possible impacts from Tropical Storm Isaac.
The storm is expected to increase to hurricane strength late Sunday or early Monday morning. Tropical storm-force winds are expected by Sunday evening.
Emergency Management officials also have begun notifying people with special needs (PSNs) to expect possible evacuation notices by Sunday, Aug. 26, in advance of the storm. Officials will decide Sunday whether to call for any evacuations of low-lying or coastal areas, says a county news release issued late Saturday afternoon, Aug. 25.
Coastal residents can expect a storm surge at least 1 foot higher than the highest surge from Tropical Storm Debby, the news release points out. Boat owners should take all necessary precautions, including moving their vessels because of an expected storm surge of 3 feet or more.
All Sarasota County Public Schools will be closed on Monday, including all charter and alternative schools, as well as the Sarasota County Technical Institute, the school district has announced.
Additionally, all Sarasota County Government offices will be closed, including the Clerk of Court.
Information about when the schools will reopen will be distributed to families and other community residents by telephone, website posting (www.sarasotacountyschools.net) and announcements in the news media, when officials make that decision, a district news release notes.
County residents are advised to continue to monitor local media, radio and scgov.net for storm updates and to follow county officials on Twitter and Facebook.
For more information, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 or visitwww.scgov.net.