Hurricane Irma Latest; Houston Students Back To School; Oregon Is Burning: Patch Morning Briefing

Well, here we are back to Monday, and since last week was Labor Day, this is the first five-day week since the end of summer for many. Sorry to be the one to break that piece of news. The short of it, right now it seems half the country is flooding, while half is on fire. Here's the Patch Morning Briefing with stories we think you should know about.

Hurricane Irma

Three Dead, Millions Without Power As Storm Moves North

What started out as a monster Category 4 storm making landfall has worked its way north up Florida, leaving devastation in its wake. Three dead. Millions without power. Buildings destroyed. Roads now rivers. (Patch)

Tampa Is Next

By 11 p.m. Sunday, Irma had the Tampa area clearly in its sights. With hurricane-force winds already striking the area, the worst is not expected until the morning. Fifteen inches of rain is expected with very dangerous storm surges as well (Patch)

Watch The Storm's Progress On Livecams

From the Florida Keys to Tampa Bay, live webcams are capturing the impact of Hurricane Irma as the storm makes its way into Florida. (Patch)

Sheriff's Deputy, Correction Officer Killed In Crash

Two of the three deaths in Florida occurred when two on-duty law enforcement officers were killed in a head-on crash. Deputy Sheriff Julie Bridges of Hardee County died as well as Sgt. Joseph Osman, who worked at the Hardee Correctional Institute. (Patch)

While Many Are Helping Others, There's This

As if the people of Tampa don't have enough to worry about, Tampa Electric says that people are dressing up as its employees, showing up at people's homes, and robbing them at gunpoint. The company reminds people to ask for a photo ID badge and call the company to verify the identity. (Patch).

In Miami And Need Shelter?

Miami-Dade County had opened 44 emergency shelters as of Sunday morning, but 16 were already full. Patch breaks down the list by which shelters still have room and those that don't. We've put together a list and are updating when possible. (Patch)

Atlanta To Weather Service: Are You Sure?

While Atlanta has survived much (Google: Civil War, burning), the Peachtree City - located more than 250 miles from the ocean - is not accustomed to Tropical Storm Warnings. So, imagine their surprise when, for the first time in recorded history, they were placed under one on Sunday. (Patch)

Other Disaster And Recovery News

Most Houston Students Returning To School

The Houston school district says that students at 202 of its 284 schools are going back to school on Monday. The students who attend the nine hardest hit schools won't be back until the 25th, while the remaining schools will go back either this week or next. (Patch)

First Responders Sue Chemical Company Over Exposure

First responders who were affected by fumes from the exploding Arkema Chemical plant have filed a lawsuit, alleging they were not warned of the toxic fumes. (Patch)

Meanwhile, The Northwest Burns

Oregon is dealing with nearly two dozen wildfires that have burned more than 500,000 acres. One in southern Oregon has eaten up more than 187,000 acres. In the northwest part of the state, not far from Portland - Oregon's largest city - a fire has burned more than 33,000 acres, displaced hundreds, and destroyed four homes. And it's barely contained. (Patch)

In Other News

University Of California Sues Administration Over DACA

The school system says that the Trump administration's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program violates the constitutional right of its students and the decision was based on "nothing more than unreasoned executive whim." (Patch)

Michael Bennett's Lawyer Calls For Independent Probe

Bennett made headlines last week when he disclosed that a Las Vegas police officer held a gun to his head and handcuffed him in what turned out to be a case of - if you believe the police - mistaken identity or, if you believe Bennett, a case of him being a black man in the wrong place at the wrong time. Bennett's lawyer says the police have prejudged his client and the situation and wants an independent probe. (Patch)

Schmitty The Weather Dog Brings Smiles, Helps Firefighters

Schmitty was a Yorkshire terrier living a New York City life, hanging out with the firefighters of Ladder 25. On September 11, 2001, they went to the World Trade Center. Nine did not return. Schmitty now lives in Rhode Island where she's known as Schmitty the Weather Dog, performing for kids in addition to helping with the local news. She also helps sell greeting cards and other items with the money going to the Uniformed Firefighters Scholarship Fund. (Patch)

On This Date In History

1789 - Alexander Hamilton appointed first United States secretary of the Treasury.

1941 - Famed aviator Charles Lindbergh delivers a speech accusing the British of working with the Jews and the Roosevelt administration of pushing for war with Germany.

1972 - The Bay Area Rapid Transit in San Francisco starts passenger service.

1976 - New York police officer Brian Murray is killed dismantling a bomb that Zvonko Busic had placed in Grand Central the day before.

2001 - Al Qaeda hijackers seize control of four aircraft, crashing two into the World Trade Center and one into the Pentagon. The fourth crashes in Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people are killed.

Born On This Date

1913 - Legendary Alabama football coach Bear Bryant

1924 - Legendary Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry

1965 - Musician Moby

1967 - Musician Harry Connick Jr. and journalist Maria Bartiromo

1977 - Musician Ludacris

We hope you have a good day, and we will see you back here tomorrow.

Image via Desmond Boylan/Associated Press