Hurricane Michael closings, re-openings
The severe weather has come and gone. Some groups remain closed and others are reopening. Here is a list of weather related closings and re-openings, with the newest information on top. Email us your weather-related closings/openings to online@savannahnow.com.
• The Candidates Forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Coastal Georgia will go forward 1 p.m. Friday (today) at the Southwest Chatham Library, 14097 Abercorn St. State Sen. Ben Watson and Democratic candidate Sandra Workman, running for the Georgia Legislature, District 1, will discuss issues facing voters in District 1 which includes portions of Chatham and Liberty counties and Bryan County. The event is "sold out."
• Chatham Area Transit customers can take their normal bus routes Friday morning. All routes will operate, as well as paratransit service.
• All Live Oak Public Libraries branches in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty counties will be open normal hours starting Friday. Library patrons will not be charged for overdue fines accrued on Thursday.
• Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools state that all facilities will reopen and classes will resume on Friday.
• Fort Pulaski National Monument will reopen at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Park officials completed an assessment of the park’s facilities and resources on Thursday and found minimal damage. Fort Pulaski National Monument is on U.S. Highway 80, 15 miles east of Savannah; www.nps.gov/FortPulaski or 912-786-5787.
• The Catholic Pastoral Center, Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, St. James Catholic School and St. Peter the Apostle Catholic School in Savannah and St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Brunswick will reopen Friday.
• As of 2 p.m. Thursday, The Chatham Area Transit Authority bus and paratransit remains suspended. The water ferries will resume service at 2:30 p.m. Thursday
• Saint Leo University’s Savannah Education Center remains closed Thursday and classes are canceled.
• Senior Citizens Inc.'s neighborhood centers are closed Thursday but will be in full operation with regular hours Friday. While the hurricane was our concern, unfortunately, damage hit in another way last night as a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed crashed into the Ruth Byck Adult Day Care Center leaving it inoperable and will be closed Thursday while staff relocates services to the east end of the main building at 3025 Bull St. Ruth Byck Adult Day Care Center will be operating with regular hours Friday at its temporary location. To assist the Ruth Byck Adult Day Care Center recover from this building damage and effectively continue services, the community can make donations at the SCI offices, 3025 Bull St., online at seniorcitizensinc.org or by calling 912-236-0363.
• The BankSouth office at 18 W. Bryan St. will delay opening until noon Thursday. The BankSouth Office at 613 Stephenson Ave. will be closed Thursday.
• The Chatham County Board of Assessors has rescheduled its board meeting from Thursday to 8:30 a.m. Oct. 16.
• Garden City City Hall and city offices are closed Thursday. City Hall will reopen for normal business operations at 8 am. Friday. Waste Management will be closed Thursday with all residential routes delayed by one day.
• Optim Health System facilities closed Thursday are: Imaging – DeRenne, Coastal, RHC, Alma, Baxley, Brunswick, Claxton, Dublin, Macon, Reidsville, Savannah (Pain Management only), Statesboro, Swainsboro, Sylvania, and Vidalia. Delayed Start: Optim Surgery Center – 10 a.m., Therapy – DeRenne, Pooler, Rincon – 11a.m.; Hinesville – noon. Cases canceled: Optim Medical Center-Tattnall and Screven.
• The City of Savannah’s Utility Billing Payment Office, 132 E. Broughton St., will be closed Thursday. The office will reopen on Friday. Utility bill payments can be made on line at savannahga.gov/utilitypay.
• The following GA Department of Driver Services licensing centers will be closed Thursday: Albany, Americus, Bainbridge, Cordele, Douglas, Helena, Sandersville, Swansboro, Tifton, Thomasville and Valdosta. The following GA Department of Driver Services licensing centers will have a delayed opening at 10 a.m. Thursday: Augusta, Brunswick, Columbus, Evans, Ft. Benning, Hinesville, Kingsland, Macon, Perry, Reidsville, Rincon, Savannah, Statesboro, Thomson, Thomaston, Warner Robins and Waycross. The following GA Department of Driver Services licensing centers will have a delayed opening at 1 p.m. Thursday: Dublin and Milledgeville.
• The City of Port Wentworth - City Hall, Administrative Offices, Leisure Services Department, and Developmental Services — will have delayed openings until noon Thursday, Oct. 11. The Ed Young Senior Center will be closed Thursday, re-opening on Friday, Oct. 12. Leisure Services afternoon sports programs are all cancelled Thursday, Oct. 11.
• The Georgia Department of Transportation will close the Talmadge bridge to all traffic. The Talmadge Bridge will no longer be accessible to traffic at 9 p.m. Wednesday.
• Chatham Area Transit authority’s buses, paratransit vans and water ferries will not operate Wednesday night or Thursday. Transit buses departing the downtown JM Rivers Jr. intermodal transit center between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. will make their last outbound trips of the day. All buses, CAT Mobility vehicles and the water ferries will stop service by 8 p.m.
• Calvary Day School and Calvary Early Learning Center will be closed Thursday for all students and staff. All Calvary Day School events, practices and after care will close at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Calvary Early Learning Center will close at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
• The City of Savannah's Adult Day Care and Senior Centers will be closed Thursday. The Community Centers are scheduled to open at their regular time at 3 p.m. Thursday. Parking Garages will be open Thursday. Parking enforcement in the garages and on the street will not begin until noon. Recorder’s Court’s traffic court and felony hearings have been cancelled. Recorder’s Court will send out new court dates and times by mail to everyone scheduled for Thursday’s docket.
• The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force will be closed Thursday, Oct. 11.
• Due to the threat of inclement weather the Fire Prevention Week demonstration scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 has been rescheduled. The Escaping and Preventing Home Fires for Kids and Apparatus Display event at the Childcare Network Preschool, 7460 Hodgson Memorial Drive, will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 18.
• As of 2:12 p.m. Oct. 10, the following closures and cancellations will effect YMCA of Coastal Georgia operations on Thursday, Oct. 11: All YMCA of Coastal Georgia branches will open from noon until regular closing time. Sports practices and games will resume normal schedules on Thursday afternoons, unless otherwise noted.
Chatham County: The Islands YMCA, Habersham YMCA, Tybee Island YMCA and West Chatham YMCA will open for fitness center access from noon through regular closing time. There will be no child watch or Mother’s Morning Out programs. Pryme Tyme will be closed at all locations. Fun Club Before & Afterschool Programs at the Islands, Habersham and West Chatham YMCAs will be closed. Full time Childcare and Georgia Pre-K at the Habersham YMCA and West Chatham YMCA will be closed.
Bryan County: The Richmond Hill YMCA will open for fitness center access from noon through regular closing time. There will be no child watch or Mother’s Morning Out programs. Fun Club before and after school program will be closed.
Bulloch County: The Statesboro Family YMCA will open for fitness center access from 12:00 pm through regular closing time. There will be no child watch or Mother’s Morning Out programs. Due to the changes in the storm, we will no longer be offering Holiday Camp on Thursday.
Effingham: The Effingham YMCA will open for fitness center access from noon through regular closing time. There will be no child watch or Mother’s Morning Out programs. Pryme Tyme will be closed at all locations. Fun Club Afterschool Program will be closed. Full time Childcare and Georgia Pre-K will be closed.
Glynn County: The Golden Isles YMCA will open for fitness center access from noon through regular closing time. There will be no child watch or Mother’s Morning Out programs. Pryme Tyme will be closed at all locations. Fun Club Before & Afterschool Program will be closed. Full time Childcare and Georgia Pre-K will be closed. Due to changes in operations, we will no longer be offering Holiday Camp for Thursday, Oct. 11.
McIntosh County: The Golden Isles YMCA will open for fitness center access from noon through regular closing time. There will be no child watch.
Liberty County: The Liberty County/Armed Services YMCA will open for fitness center access from noon through regular closing time. There will be no child watch or Mother’s Morning Out programs. Pryme Tyme will be closed at all locations. Fun Club Before & Afterschool Program will be closed.
The YMCA is continuing to monitor the path of the storm and at this time we will resume regular operations on Friday, Oct.r 12. Updates across social media channels and www.ymcaofcoastalga.org will be made as needed.
• Chatham County Offices will delay opening Thursday, Oct. 11, until noon. Those having business with the Chatham County Court System should call the Court to determine the status of any court cases.
• The city of Savannah’s Sanitation Department will not be collecting trash Thursday, Oct. 11, due to the potential impact of Hurricane Michael. Thursday’s trash pickup will be Friday, Oct. 12. All residents should secure their trash and recycling carts so they do not blow over during the forecasted high winds.
• Bryan County School Superintendent Paul Brooksher has announced that schools in the county will be closed to all staff and students along with extracurricular activities Thursday, Oct. 11, due to weather concerns associated with Hurricane Michael. Based on the most current information at this time regarding Hurricane Michael, the schools plan to reopen on Friday.
• Savannah Technical College will close at 5 p.m. Oct. 10 and will remain closed on Oct. 11 in response to expected tropical storm conditions forecast as a result of Hurricane Michael. All night classes are cancelled on Oct. 10, as well as all classes on Oct. 11. The College plans to reopen for business as usual on Friday, Oct. 12. Additional information will be available at www.savannahtech.edu/Emergency.
• The city of Savannah will delay opening until noon Thursday, Oct. 11 due to Hurricane Michael. That means city buildings will be closed and city services will be suspended until noon. Public Safety and Public Works operations will continue to operate during the storm. Oct. 11 2 p.m. City Council meeting will occur as scheduled. Oct. 11 City Council Workshop scheduled for 10 a.m. has been canceled. Alderwoman Dr. Estella Shabazz’s District 5 Town Hall Meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 11 has been rescheduled to Thursday, Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m.
• All Live Oak Public Libraries branches in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties will be closed Thursday, Oct. 11, due to potential severe weather conditions associated with Hurricane Michael. Carnegie Library will be closed beginning at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 10. West Broad Library will be closed beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10. Library patrons will not be charged for overdue fines accrued on Thursday, Oct. 11. Library book drops will be closed when libraries are closed. Library staff request that patrons do not use book drops as items may be damaged in bad weather. Online resources, including e-books, audiobooks and videos, are available 24/7 at www.liveoakpl.org.
• Government offices in Beaufort County will be closed Thursday, Oct. 11.
• All University of South Carolina Beaufort classes and business operations – Bluffton and Beaufort campuses – will be closed Thursday, Oct. 11. USCB residence halls and food service – Bluffton and Beaufort campuses – will remain open. We continue to monitor conditions – inclusive of weather, traffic, and other safety concerns and will provide another update by 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11.
• Savannah-Chatham County Public School System Board of Public Education Academic Excellence Committee meeting for Oct. 11 has been cancelled.
• Fort Stewart, Hunter Army Airfield prepare for Hurricane Michael: Stewart-Hunter's status as of 3 p.m. is to operate on a reduced-manning status for this evening. Key and essential personnel will work as directed by their supervisors or chains of command. All service members need to contact their commanders for guidance on release procedures. All soldiers and civilian employees will report for work Thursday at normal times. Units will hold physical training as scheduled. Consult chain of command for physical training locations. At this time, 1:05 p.m. Oct. 10, the senior commander has not signed orders allowing active duty soldiers and Department of the Army civilians displaced by mandatory evacuations to possible monetary reimbursement. Third Infantry Division units — 3rd ID Sustainment Brigade and 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade — are prepared to support local, state and federal response efforts in the wake of Hurricane Michael. The installation community is encouraged to download the Fort Stewart Hunter Army Airfield app for Android and iOS to keep up-to-date on the hurricane.
Closed: Department of Defense Education Activities schools on Fort Stewart are closed through Thursday and will reopen on Friday. The NCO Academy will be closed through Thursday. FMWR youth and intramural sports programs are canceled today and Thursday.
Open: Newman Physical Fitness Center is the location for 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team's welcome home ceremonies scheduled for tonight and Thursday. All access control points are operating normal hours. The commissaries at Stewart and at Hunter are operating normal hours. All Exchange services on Stewart-Hunter are operating normal hours. Winn Army Community Hospital and all other medical clinics are operating normal hours. All dining facilities will be open today and operating normal hours. Most Family, Morale and Welfare Recreation services, including fitness centers, child development centers and Child and Youth Services are operating normal hours.
• Benedictine Military School will be closed Thursday, Oct. 11. We are monitoring the situation with Hurricane Michael and we will make a decision later regarding Friday.
• Saint Leo University’s Savannah Education Center, 325 W. Montgomery Crossroads, will close at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10. Classes are canceled and the office will remain closed from Wednesday, Oct. 10, through noon, Thursday, Oct. 11. Check www.saintleo.edu for updates.
• Savannah-Chatham County Public School System will be closed on Thursday, Oct. 11, for all students and all staff. Only essential personnel as directed by his or her supervisor, will be required to work on Thursday, Oct. 11. All athletic, after-school, and after-school extracurricular activities remain cancelled for Wednesday, Oct. 10. The YMCA’s Pryme-Tyme Afterschool program will remain open on Wednesday until 6 p.m.
• D. J. Powers offices in Savannah and Brunswick will delay opening Thursday, Oct. 11, until noon.
• The Creative Coast Labs will be closed Thursday, Oct., 11, due to Hurricane Michael. All events, coworking, etc., will not be accessible. We plan on reopening Friday, Oct. 12, pending weather conditions.
• Schools in Effingham County will be closed Thursday, Oct. 11, due to the hurricane. All school-related activities are canceled for Thursday. The Effingham County Emergency Management Agency says no evacuations have been ordered because of the storm. Schools are operating on a normal schedule Wednesday, Oct. 10.
• YMCA of Coastal Georgia weather related closures: The following closures and cancellations will effect YMCA of Coastal Georgia operations on Wednesday, Oct. 10. All YMCA of Coastal Georgia branches in all counties will close at 7 p.m. this evening. No sports practices or will be held at any branch location. Chatham County: Pryme Tyme is operating on its normal schedule and will be open this afternoon. Fun Club Afterschool Programs at the Islands, Habersham and West Chatham YMCAs will operate on their normal schedules. Bryan County: Fun Club Afterschool Program will operate on its normal schedule at the Richmond Hill YMCA. Effingham: Pryme Tyme is operating on its normal schedule at all school locations. Fun Club Afterschool Care will operate on its normal schedule. Decision about branch operations for Thursday, Oct. 11 will be made later this afternoon.
• Due to the State Emergency Declaration and current weather conditions, the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) driver’s licensing centers will be closed at the following locations: Closing at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, through Thursday, Oct. 11: Bainbridge and Thomasville. Closing at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, through Thursday, Oct. 11: Albany, Americus,Cordele,Douglas,Tifton and Valdosta. Customers are reminded that many transactions can be completed on the DDS Mobile App, DDS 2 GO, available for free at the App Store and Google Play.
• Heads-Up Guidance Services (HUGS) will be closed Thursday, Oct. 11, and Friday, Oct.12, due to safety concerns for counselors and clients as Hurricane Michael approaches Chatham County and the surrounding areas.
• Savannah-Chatham County Public School officials have canceled all afterschool activities on Wednesday, Oct. 10. The cancellation includes all afterschool athletics and 21st Century Programs. The YMCA Pryme Tyme Program currently remains on its regular schedule. All schools will remain open on their regular operational schedules on Wednesday, Oct. 10. SCCPSS remains in constant contact with the Chatham Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service for the most up to date information associated with this storm.
• The RHBC Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 11, at the Bryan County Library in Richmond Hill has been cancelled due to the potential threat of severe weather.
• Georgia Southern University has canceled classes and University-sponsored events for Wednesday, Oct. 10, on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah, the Statesboro Campus in Statesboro and the Liberty Campus in Hinesville. More information and updates at GeorgiaSouthern.edu/alert.
• All Ogeechee Technical College’s classes will be canceled and campuses will be closed Wednesday, Oct. 10, through Thursday, Oct. 11. OTC is always closed on Fridays. This is based on the latest information from Bulloch County Public Safety/EMA and the NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center projection for Hurricane Michael. Classes should resume and campuses should reopen as scheduled on Oct. 15. Updates will be sent via OTCAlert, email, and postings on ogeecheetech.edu.
• City of Savannah postpones Oct. 10 events due to severe weather. The Windsor Park ribbon cutting ceremony, the special City Council meeting and Alderman John Hall’s District 3 Town Hall meeting will all be rescheduled for a later date.
• Fort Pulaski National Monument will be closed Tuesday, Oct. 9, to prepare for Hurricane Michael. The park will remain closed until after the storm has passed and re-open once damage assessments have been made and the park is deemed safe for visitation. Info at www.nps.gov/FortPulaski, www.instagram.com/FortPulaskiNPS, www.twitter.com/FortPulaskiNPS, or www.facebook.com/FortPulaskiNPS.
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