Hurricane Irma: Miami-Dade County Schools Close Indefinitely

MIAMI, FL — Miami-Dade County Public Schools have been closed indefinitely as officials try to assess the damage from Hurricane Irma.

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said in a Facebook post the closure was due to uncertainty surrounding school shelter closings and the "inability to inspect and make repairs to buildings" that may have been damaged in the storm.

"Schools will remain closed until further notice," he said. (For more information on Hurricane Irma and other Miami stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Also See: Hurricane Irma Weakens To A Tropical Storm, But It's Still Dangerous

The massive, 400-mile-wide storm left at least three people dead in Florida, but officials feared more were killed after surveying damage in the Florida Keys, where Irma made landfall early Sunday morning. At least 4 million people have lost power, and it’s unclear how long it will be before power is restored. In its 8 a.m. update, the National Hurricane Center said Irma was swirling about 105 miles north-northwest of Tampa with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.

The Miami Herald reported that Carvalho said in a press conference Monday that schools could be closed until Sept. 18.

Miami-Dade superintendent Alberto Carvalho: county schools will be closed thru at least Wed. Maybe till Monday. pic.twitter.com/INzsrMprJX
— Doug Hanks (@doug_hanks) September 11, 2017

Photo credit:Alberto Carvalho Facebook page