Severe Flooding Forces School and College Closures in Upstate
In the Upstate, communities are grappling with the aftermath of severe flooding caused by Tropical Storm Helene. As a result, many schools and colleges have made the decision to cancel classes and activities. Here’s what we know so far about school closures and plans for the week ahead.
Greenville County Schools
Greenville County Schools will remain closed through Friday, October 4. Officials have stated that schools and offices will not be open to the public. Furthermore, there will be no eLearning options available, and all planned field trips are canceled.
The closure is primarily due to a lack of stable power and safe transportation routes. The district faces widespread power outages, non-functional traffic signals, and numerous downed trees and power lines, making it unsafe for students to travel to school. According to district officials, more than 38,000 miles of bus routes traverse approximately 10,000 miles of roads, and many of these routes are currently impassable.
The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office is advising residents to stay off the roads when possible, which further complicates any efforts to transport students and staff. An evaluation of approximately 370 individual bus routes will be conducted to determine which routes may be safe. Officials are expected to announce plans regarding activities and sports on Wednesday.
Other Districts in the Region
All Spartanburg County school districts have announced closures until Friday as well, with no e-learning expectations either. Anderson County also canceled classes on Tuesday and Wednesday.
For families seeking support, both Flat Rock Elementary and Iva Elementary will be open for device charging from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, and free food will be distributed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the same days.
Colleges Close Their Doors
In higher education, USC Upstate has also closed its campus through Wednesday, canceling all classes. A remote work schedule has been established for non-essential employees during this time.
Spartanburg Community College has decided to close all campuses through Tuesday, while Converse University will cancel classes for the entire week of September 30 due to ongoing power issues, with electricity restoration potentially occurring by Wednesday.
Clemson University has shut down its main campus and all statewide facilities, with classes canceled effective September 30. The university has opened three facilities (Littlejohn Coliseum, Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Complex, and Hendrix Student Center) for students and community members, providing amenities like power stations and food options.
Wofford College, Limestone University, and Furman University have also decided to cancel classes through Wednesday due to similar challenges. Furman University reported that it has been without power, impacting living conditions for students and staff.
Classes and activities at Anderson University are canceled through Tuesday as the campus remains without power. Students have been encouraged to return home safely if possible.
Conclusion
As communities recover from the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Helene, officials will continue to assess the situation regarding power restoration, safe transportation, and food supply availability. Parents and students are advised to remain alert for further updates on school operations as the week progresses.
