Tropical Storm Helene Causes Sweeping School Shutdowns Throughout Upstate
In the wake of Tropical Storm Helene, sweeping school and college closures have been announced across the Upstate. The storm’s devastating damage, including widespread flooding and power outages, has left educational institutions grappling with unstable conditions and safety risks, prompting days of cancellations and paused e-learning.
Closures Across the Academic Board
From primary to higher education, schools are taking no chances. The South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind plans to remain closed through Friday, announced via a social media post, with no requirements for e-learning. Limestone University has echoed this decision, cancelling classes till Thursday without any e-learning.
Anderson University has gone a step further, cancelling all classes and activities until the end of the week. However, the campus is set to open again on Monday.
The decision to close schools does not just hinge on the status of the institutions, but also on the safety of the commute. All Anderson County Districts have canceled school through Friday, as per District 3 Chief Communications Officer Dylan McCullough, due to unsafe transportation routes and extensive cleanup efforts.
Citing similar reasons, USC Upstate, Greenville County Schools, and all Spartanburg Community College campuses are also closed through Friday. Essential USC Upstate employees will continue to work remotely, while both Greenville County Schools and Spartanburg Community College have assured students that they won’t need to log in to online classes during the closure.
The Effort to Provide Community Support
Despite the dire situation, efforts are underway to provide temporary relief for those affected. Clemson University will open the Littlejohn Coliseum tomorrow, offering the community access to free food, drinks, charging stations, and showers from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Similarly, Converse University and Spartanburg Methodist College, whilst cancelling classes through Friday, have ensured continued meal services and temporary charging stations for students who remain on campus.
Commendable Recovery Efforts, but Challenges Remain
Despite the swift action, on-the-ground conditions remain challenging. According to a message from Furman University, while electricity has been restored to most of its campus thanks to Duke Energy, most of the community remains powerless with dire conditions prevailing. The university stressed hoping for the best but preparing for the worst, as they’ve cancelled classes for the rest of the week.
Power is not the only issue. The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office has urged locals to stay off roads as far as possible due to downed power lines and precarious travel conditions. School buses running thousands of miles per day now face hazardous routes.
But despite the current concerning situation, schools and universities have stressed they are doing their utmost to ensure student safety while planning for successful reopening. The clear intent is to ride out the storm – both literal and metaphorical – with the reassurance that sunshine follows the rain.
This is an ongoing story. Further updates will be provided as the situation evolves.
