All Martin County School District-operated schools will be closed Tuesday, Nov. 3, and all after-school activities are canceled as flooding and severe weather create unsafe travel conditions. District officials said the decision took into account the safety of students, families and employees, including those who commute into Martin County from neighboring communities.
Conditions vary significantly across the region, with some communities experiencing serious flooding and difficult travel, school officials said in a Facebook post. Throughout Monday, the district received reports of employees and families driving through floodwaters to get home, abandoning vehicles because roads were impassable and making alternate overnight accommodations because they could not safely remain in their homes. The district said many employees and families live outside Martin County, and conditions in those neighboring communities played an important role in the closure decision.
Officials also considered whether employees could safely travel to and from campuses and whether schools would have enough staff and resources to support students safely throughout the day. The district said the closure follows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' declaration of a state of emergency covering Martin County and surrounding counties. “We encourage everyone to use caution and prioritize their safety as conditions continue to affect our region,” the district said. Families are asked to monitor the Martin County School District's website and social media accounts for updates.
Okeechobee County schools also will remain closed Tuesday. District officials announced Monday evening that lingering floodwaters continued to prevent safe access to some campuses and had created unsafe conditions at several school bus waiting areas. Crews assessed campuses and access routes Monday, and officials consulted with the Okeechobee County Emergency Operations Center before deciding to keep schools closed.
District teams will continue checking conditions Tuesday and provide updates about reopening. Officials also plan to announce in the coming days whether makeup days will be necessary.