HAMLET — With a threat of flooding associated with Hurricane Idalia, Richmond County Schools has decided to cancel classes for students on Thursday.
The district, “Out of an abundance of caution …,” also canceled afterschool activities for Wednesday.
Richmond Early College and Richmond Senior High School students who take classes at Richmond Community College will not have classes and will be excused from their college classes, according to a Facebook post.
RCS staff will have an optional workday.
“As always, the safety of our students and staff is our top priority,” the post reads.
As of 3 p.m., no decision had been announced by Richmond Community College.
As of the 2 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center, the eye of Idalia was about 10 miles north-northwest of Waycross, Georgia, after making landfall just before 8 a.m. southeast of Tallahassee, Florida.
The storm had reached Category 3 status, but maximum sustained winds have dropped to 75 mph, according to the NHS.
Richmond County is currently under a flood watch, with 2-6 inches of rain expected through Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.
The southern portion of the county is labeled as having the potential for major flooding rain, according to the noon briefing from the National Weather Service.
Counties to the east — including Scotland, Hoke, Robeson, Bladen and Marlboro — are under a tropical storm warning.
Idalia is expected to travel along the coast of South Carolina and veer into the Atlantic Ocean near Wilmington around 8 a.m. Thursday morning.
UPDATE: Richmond Community College will operate on a normal schedule for Thursday.
Note: Story was updated at 5:21 p.m. 8-30-23
