Hurricane Isaias School Closures: Mobile, Baldwin, Catholic Schools Shut Friday; Some Close Thursday

MOBILE, Ala. — Hurricane Isaias school closures have swept across Mobile and Baldwin counties, with Mobile County Public Schools, Baldwin County Public Schools, the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Mobile and area Episcopal schools all closed Friday, Oct. 9, as the storm bears down on the Gulf Coast. Several city school systems closed even earlier, and in Baldwin County the Friday closure runs straight into a fall break that keeps students home through Oct. 14.

The school closures were announced Wednesday and Thursday as forecasters warned that Isaias, then a strengthening tropical storm, would likely reach the coast as a hurricane late Friday or early Saturday. Gov. Kay Ivey’s state of emergency for 40 counties, issued Wednesday, specifically authorizes local school systems to close based on local conditions.

Here is a rundown of what has been announced, what superintendents told families and what parents should keep in mind over the coming days.

Mobile County Public Schools

All Mobile County Public Schools campuses and offices are closed Friday, Superintendent Chresal D. Threadgill announced in a letter to families and employees.

“As Superintendent, I must make all decisions with the safety and well-being of our students and employees in mind,” Threadgill wrote. “We all know and recognize that weather conditions can be unpredictable and forecasts may change quickly.”

He said the decision came after a review of the latest weather information and the potential for inclement weather in the area. “I cannot risk anyone’s safety, as again, the weather conditions currently remain extremely unpredictable,” he wrote.

Threadgill acknowledged the burden a closure places on households. “I completely understand that closing schools can create challenges for families, and I do not take that impact lightly,” he said. “I appreciate your patience, understanding, and flexibility as we navigate circumstances that are ultimately beyond our control.”

He asked families and staff to keep monitoring the system’s official communication platforms for further information. MCPSS is one of the largest public school systems in Alabama, so a districtwide closure affects tens of thousands of students and employees across Mobile, Prichard, Theodore, Grand Bay, Semmes, Citronelle and the county’s other communities.

Baldwin County Public Schools

Baldwin County Public Schools Superintendent Marty McRae told parents on Wednesday, Oct. 7, that schools would be closed Friday, and he said he wanted to give families as much notice as possible.

“We have been closely watching the activity in the Gulf as I’m sure many of you have. I will say this storm has been a little unpredictable as weather can be,” McRae wrote. “I wanted to get this to you as far in advance as I could because I know many of you have to make plans.”

“We do not like to do this, because it affects so many, but we have to take all factors into consideration and of course the most important, the safety of our students and our staff,” he said.

Along with classes, all after-school and extracurricular activities scheduled through Saturday have been canceled.

McRae reminded families that students are on fall break through Oct. 14 and are expected to return to school on Thursday, Oct. 15. “If for some reason those plans change, you will hear directly from us,” he wrote. Reports on the closures indicated that Mobile County students are also scheduled to be out for fall break through Oct. 14 and to return Oct. 15; families should watch official MCPSS channels for confirmation of any changes.

“We have been through these before and we will get through this one as well,” McRae told parents. “Please stay up to date with the forecasts as we go into Friday and we will be back in touch if updates are needed.”

Orange Beach, Gulf Shores and Chickasaw

Some systems closing earlier than the county districts were the city school systems on the Baldwin County coast, where the storm surge threat is greatest.

Orange Beach City Schools canceled school and all school-related activities on Thursday, Oct. 8. In a Facebook post, the system cited the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency’s state of emergency, “effective immediately,” and the agency’s encouragement to evacuate the forecast surge area “for what is expected to be Hurricane Isaias.” Orange Beach schools were already scheduled to be closed Friday for fall break.

Orange Beach’s home football game against Satsuma, scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at Mako Stadium, was postponed until Monday. Residents and parents were asked to monitor weather forecasts, City of Orange Beach announcements and ParentSquare for updates.

Gulf Shores City Schools also announced on Facebook that it would be closed Thursday. The Gulf Shores Dolphins were still scheduled to play at Elberta High School at 4 p.m. Thursday, with gates opening at 3:15 p.m.; fans were asked not to arrive before then to avoid school dismissal traffic.

Chickasaw City Schools in Mobile County announced it would be closed Friday, Oct. 9.

Catholic and Episcopal schools

The Archdiocese of Mobile was the first to announce a closure, saying its Catholic schools in Mobile and Baldwin counties would be closed Friday “for the safety of our students, families and school staff.” The archdiocese said the closure does not affect its schools’ scheduled fall break on Oct. 15 and 16. Area Episcopal schools are also closed Friday.

The storm has disrupted church life as well. All archdiocese-sponsored events scheduled from Friday through Sunday have been postponed, including ACYC Jr. and the Oct. 10 Mass of Hope and Remembrance at St. Patrick Parish in Robertsdale.

“The safety of our people is of utmost concern,” the archdiocese said in a press release.

Archbishop Mark S. Rivituso has formally dispensed Catholics in the archdiocese from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass on Oct. 11, including Saturday vigil Masses. Those who can safely attend are encouraged to do so, but the archdiocese urged people to “please place your safety and the safety of your loved ones first.” Decisions about parish events and Mass times will be made by individual pastors, and parishioners should check with their parish for updates.

The Archdiocese of Mobile covers 22,969 square miles and includes the lower 28 counties of Alabama, so its decisions reach well beyond the coast.

Why schools closed before the storm arrived

To many families, closing on Friday may seem early for a storm forecast to arrive late Friday night or early Saturday. But superintendents typically weigh more than the timing of landfall. Buses must be able to run safely in both directions, staff need time to secure buildings and get home to prepare their own households, and parents need daylight hours to finish storm preparations or evacuate. Outer rain bands and tropical storm-force winds also typically arrive hours ahead of a hurricane’s center.

When the closures were announced Wednesday, Isaias was still a tropical storm. As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, it had maximum sustained winds of about 46 mph with gusts near 57 mph, and the National Weather Service’s forecast cone was centered on the Mobile and Baldwin county area. Forecasters expected the storm to become a hurricane on Thursday and to strengthen into a Category 2 storm by Friday night. By Thursday, Ivey said in a video message that the storm was “now officially a hurricane.”

A hurricane watch was posted for coastal Alabama on Wednesday. Baldwin County emergency officials warned residents to prepare for up to 6 inches of rain across the county, with higher totals near the coast.

In many communities, school buildings can also be called on as shelters or staging areas during emergencies, and keeping students home gives districts flexibility if county emergency operations need them.

What parents should know

With school out and the storm approaching, families can take a few steps to stay informed and safe:

• Watch official channels. MCPSS, Baldwin County Public Schools, the city systems and the archdiocese have said they will share any changes directly through their official websites, social media pages and parent notification systems such as ParentSquare.
• Expect more schedule changes. Return dates, athletic events and extracurricular activities may shift again depending on storm damage, power outages and road conditions.
• Plan for the kids at home. Keep children away from windows during the storm, and make sure they know where the family will go if a tornado warning is issued.
• Stay off the roads. Once conditions deteriorate, avoid driving, and never drive or walk through flooded streets.
• Talk about the storm. Children can be frightened by severe weather. Explaining the family’s plan in simple terms and giving them a role in preparations can help.
• Follow evacuation orders. Families who live in storm surge zones, flood-prone areas or manufactured homes should be ready to leave if local officials call for it.

The National Weather Service in Mobile, the Mobile County and Baldwin County emergency management agencies and the National Hurricane Center at hurricanes.gov remain the best sources for forecast updates. School leaders on both sides of the bay have said they will be back in touch with families as conditions change, and any decisions about reopening will depend on what the storm leaves behind.