Hurricane Irma: Cherokee Schools Announce Plans

CANTON, GA -- The Cherokee County School District will close its facilities and offices on Monday and Tuesday due to the anticipated wrath Hurricane Irma will unleash upon Georgia. The school system made its decision based upon Governor Nathan Deal's expansion of the state of emergency and briefings with the Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency, it said Sunday.

Cherokee Charter Academy will also close down on Monday and Tuesday, its Facebook page said.

No decision has been made regarding operations and classes for Wednesday, Sept. 13. Cherokee is the latest school system in metro Atlanta that's announced its plans to close. Other systems in the area -- Bartow, Cartersville, Cobb, Atlanta, Clayton, DeKalb, Decatur, Douglas, Fulton, Forsyth, Gwinnett and Marietta -- have also announced plans to close either Monday or both Sept. 11-12.

Reinhardt University and Kennesaw State University announced that they will close their respective campuses on Sept. 11 while Chattahoochee Technical College will shutter its doors, and cancel classes and activities for both Sept. 11 and Sept. 12. Also closed on Sept. 11 are Cherokee Christian School and Furtah Preparatory School.

Gov. Nathan Deal has expanded the state of emergency to included all 159 counties in the state (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

Watch: Hurricane Irma Officially Arrives In Florida

Hurricane Irma is sending strong winds and rain across southern Florida and expected to hit Georgia as a tropical storm Sunday night, but its westward jog has lifted some of the pressure off the Savannah area, where some mandatory evacuations were eased.

Hurricane Irma continues as a major hurricane, centered less than 100 miles southeast of Key West, Florida. Official National Hurricane Center track has Irma crossing the Lower Florida Keys early this morning and then tracking up the west coast of Florida this afternoon through Monday morning. Irma should move inland over the Florida panhandle and southwestern Georgia by Monday afternoon.

SEE ALSO:

• Hurricane Irma Preparedness Kit: What You Need To Pack
• Hurricane Irma Live Updates: Millions Flee Florida, Pets Left To Die, Landfall On Sunday

Irma will remain a powerful hurricane as it approaches the Florida Keys and moves up the west coast of Florida. As Irma moves into Central Georgia, portions of the watch area can expect tropical storm force winds beginning late Sunday night. During the day Monday, the greatest impacts will be felt with winds increasing to 40 to 50 mph with gusts as high as 70 mph along and east of the center of the storm track.

Because of the wet spring and early summer, the projected wind speeds will easily bring trees down across the area which will also lead to widespread power outages. Isolated tornadoes will be possible, especially over portions of east central Georgia. Residents should be prepared in some cases to be without power for several days and stock up on supplies accordingly. Tropical storm force winds are expected to move out of the area late Monday night.

Residents are encouraged to visit the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency website by clicking here to get details on hurricane preparedness.

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