PCPS Storm Recovery Update for Sept. 30

 September 30, 2022 

The following message is from Superintendent Fred Heid regarding our recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian:

Dear PCPS families,

I want to begin by saying that we truly hope that you and your loved ones are safe following the storm.

We are all thankful for the cooler weather over the last couple days. The heat and humidity that typically follow a hurricane can become unbearable.

It has been a very long and stressful 72 hours. Cleanup efforts are underway. We all want to return to some sense of normalcy. We are making progress, but there is still much work to be done.

Please allow me to share some important updates:

School Status for Next Week: Monday (Oct. 3) – Friday (Oct. 7)

At this time, I am unable to make a decision whether school operations will resume on Monday, Oct. 3.

Many of our schools continue to experience power outages. We have more than 131 PCPS school sites, and there were 77 without power as of yesterday (Sept. 29).

We are grateful to the utility workers who are laboring to restore power throughout our community. The outpouring of support from Florida’s utility companies and neighboring states is truly humbling. If you see a utility crew, give them a friendly wave and a thank you.

If power is restored today or tomorrow to all school sites, reopening schools on Monday (Oct. 3) may be possible if we can address the following critical areas of operation:

• Ensuring schools can prepare food safely with necessary refrigeration, sanitation, and water service
• Completing post-storm cleanup of our campuses
• Having enough staff available to resume school operations

We know that closing schools has a huge impact on the plans and lives of our students and employees, as well as their families. Reopening schools is an essential part of the recovery effort. 

Having children in school and away from hazardous storm damage is very important. Many of our students rely upon our schools for food and other support. Our schools also serve as a safe and structured environment for our students.

We are working to reopen schools as quickly as possible, but we must make sure our campuses can function properly and safely. Please look for regular updates via email, automated phone calls, our website and social media.

*Important links*

• PCPS website: polkschoolsfl.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/polkcountypublicschools
• Twitter: twitter.com/polkschoolsnews
• Instagram: Instagram.com/polkcountypublicschools

Bartow, Fla. (September 29, 2022) — Beginning Friday, September 30, all Polk County residents with questions regarding hurricane debris are advised to call the Hurricane Ian Debris Hotline at (800) 375-0844. This is the only number that will be able to provide answers for all debris-related questions.

Polk County’s Waste & Recycling Division does not collect and dispose of debris from hurricanes. Your typical residential garbage, recycling, yard and bulk waste will need to be placed curbside separate from hurricane debris.

Residents are urged to continue to follow local news media, the county’s website at www.polk-county.net and our social media for updated information.

###

A partir del viernes 30 de septiembre, se recomienda a todos los residentes del Condado de Polk que tengan preguntas sobre los escombros del huracán que llamen a la línea directa de escombros del huracán Ian al (800) 375-0844. Este es el único número que podrá proporcionar respuestas a todas las preguntas relacionadas con los escombros.

La División de Residuos y Reciclaje del Condado de Polk no recolecta ni elimina los escombros de los huracanes. Su basura residencial típica, reciclaje, patio y desechos a granel deberán colocarse en la acera separados de los escombros del huracán.

Se urge a los residentes a continuar siguiendo los medios de comunicación locales, el sitio web del condado en www.polk-county.net y nuestras redes sociales para obtener información actualizada.

Polk County Public Schools Will Be Closed Friday, Sept. 30

Our team continues to work with the Emergency Operations Center staff and county agencies to monitor Hurricane Ian’s progress. There are several factors that we take into account when making decisions regarding school closures. These include:

– Shelter needs and the ability for residents to return to their homes following the storm.

– Ensuring enough time for the district personnel to inspect campuses, remove debris, make repairs, and mobilize resources to ensure that we can operate normally.

– Ensuring that we have power restored to be able to operate.

With the updated forecast and new timeline, we will be closing schools on Friday, Sept 30. We will continue to update you over the weekend as to the status of our campuses and a potential return to normal operations for next week.

Polk State College closed Wednesday & Thursday ahead of Hurricane Ian

Monday, September 26, 2022 — Polk State College will be open on Tuesday with in-person classes taking place until 5 p.m. This includes collegiate high schools and on-campus dual enrollment courses. Online classes will take place through the evening on Tuesday. The College will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday due to Hurricane Ian. This includes all campus operations and online classes. The College’s Emergency Management Team will continue to meet daily to determine if closures need to be modified or extended for the remainder of the week. Updates will be provided on polk.edu and through local and social media.

As of 5 p.m. Monday, Hurricane Ian was located approximately 155 miles southeast of Cuba. Maximum sustained winds were at 100 mph and the storm was moving north-northwest at 13 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Polk County can expect wind and rain as early as 8 p.m. Tuesday and flood warnings are in effect, according to Polk County Emergency Management.

Polk State urges everyone to sign up for AlertPolk and monitor messaging from Polk County Emergency Management, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, and the National Hurricane Center. Polk County residents are also encouraged to review information on the Polk County Emergency Management website regarding hurricane preparedness, emergency and special needs shelters, and more. Sandbag sites are open across the County daily from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.until weather conditions make it unsafe to be outside.

Students, faculty, and staff should also ensure contact information in Passport is up to date to receive emergency alerts from Polk State. Students should check under “My Details” and employees should check under “Personal” and “Change Contact Info.” Numbers entered in the “Cellular Number” field in the “Personal Information” section will be used for emergency voice and text messages.

About Polk State College

Located in Winter Haven, Florida, and established in 1964, Polk State College is a multi-campus institution serving more than 14,000 students with Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Science, Associate in Arts, and Associate in Science degrees, as well as 9,000 individuals in a wide range of certificate and workforce training programs. The College also operates three charter high schools.

Polk State’s advantages include small class sizes; hands-on learning; dedicated faculty; day and night classes; online options; affordable tuition; excellent financial aid; and a diverse community and vibrant student life, including fine arts opportunities, clubs, and intercollegiate athletics.