Hurricane Harvey: Pasadena ISD, Friendwood ISD Consider School Cancellations

PASADENA, TX — School districts along the Gulf Coast are taking various precautionary measures after learning that Hurricane Harvey could strengthen into a category 3 storm when it makes landfall.

Pasadena ISD, which is about 20 miles from the coast, is watching the storm carefully and may make an announcement on their website late Thursday to cancel classes for Friday. (Want to get daily updates about Hurricane Harvey and other events going on in your area? Sign up for the free Pasadena Patch morning newsletter.)

Clear Creek ISD, which started school on Monday, announced on their webpage that the district be open on Friday, and will announce plans for next week as the storm approaches.

Officials in Pearland ISDdecided to cancel classes, while Friendswood ISD is monitoring the storm and could also make a decision to cancel school district activities.

However, some districts closer to the coastline have already made their decison.

Galveston ISD, which is scheduled to begin its school year on Aug. 28, has cancelled activities on Friday and Saturday, and will likely delay the start of school.

Early this afternoon Galveston officials announced voluntary evacuations for people wth medical needs and functional needs on the west end of Galveston.

Alvin ISD, Santa Fe ISD, Brazosport ISD, Channelview ISD and Dickinson ISD will also close their campuses on Friday.

Hurricane Harvey is a category 1 storm at this time, but it’s expected to strengthen into a category 3 hurricane with winds between 110 and 135 miles per hour when it makes landfall late Friday.

Image: faungg’s photos via Flickr Commons

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