Lyndsay Fogarty
The path of Hurricane Matthew has continued moving west, so it is important for all Central Floridians to be prepared. Have your hurricane supply kits ready, secure loose items outside your home, clear rain gutters, determine a safe room in your home should tornados form (this should be an enclosed room without windows or outside walls), and make sure your family has a plan should power be out for an extended period of time. This plan could include having a generator handy, making sure your car is filled with gas and having cash on hand.
As you’re making your preparations, be sure to stay up to date with school closures and other important information released by the City of Orlando. We’ll be updating this post as we get more information throughout the day.
12 p.m.
City of Orlando
The City of Orlando is giving away sandbags to help residents prepare for the potential impact of hurricane Matthew. Residents must show proof of residence and will be given 10 bags per address.
WHEN:
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016 from 7 a.m. – 12 p.m.
WHERE:
City of Orlando Streets and Stormwater Division
1010 Woods Avenue
Orlando, FL 32805
STAY INFORMED:
For more information, suggested supplies and things to consider while preparing for a storm, visit cityoforlando.net.
Residents can also stay informed and get information from the City of Orlando through Social Media at:
City of Orlando’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/cityoforlando
City of Orlando’s Twitter account: @citybeautiful
Orange County Public Schools
All schools, including the campuses of Orange Technical College will be closed Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016 and Friday, Oct. 7, 2016. All activities planned for schools on and off campus are cancelled beginning Thursday and lasting through Sunday, Oct. 9.
We want to allow our OCPS students and families the opportunity to prepare for any impact Orange County may have from Hurricane Matthew. The district’s maintenance and facilities staff will also be preparing our school sites for anticipated hurricane conditions and the potential use of our schools needed as shelters.
OCPS will continue monitoring the storm through communications from the National Weather Service and with local emergency management offices. Updates will be delivered to families and staff through our ConnectORANGE phone messages, OCPS website at www.ocps.net and through district Facebook and Twitter feeds.
District offices and select facilities will remain open on Thursday but will be closed on Friday.
Seminole County Public Schools
We have been closely monitoring the trajectory of Hurricane Matthew in coordination with the Seminole County Office of Emergency Management and local weather personnel. Due to extreme weather conditions and the current predicted path of the storm, Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) will be closed on Thursday, Oct. 6 and Friday, Oct. 7. This includes all extra-curricular activities and before/after school childcare programs such as Extended Day, 21st Century, and our YMCA middle school programs. Weekend athletics and extracurricular activities are also cancelled. School activities are expected to resume as normal on Monday, Oct. 10, unless otherwise notified.
SCPS will make-up the missed school days on: Thursday, Oct. 13 and Friday, Oct. 14. These are previously scheduled board-approved make-up days.
For updates on the storm’s progress and for shelter information, please visit: www.prepareseminole.org or follow @SeminoleCounty on twitter, “like” @SeminoleCounty on Facebook, and/or sign-up for the “Alert Seminole!” automated emergency notification system by visiting www.alertseminole.org
University of Central Florida
The UCF Football game schedule for this Friday, Oct. 7 against Tulane has been rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 5. Any tickets to the UCF-Tulane game for Oct. 7 will be honored on Nov. 5. Kickoff time and any television broadcast information for the Knights matchup with the Green Wave will come at a later date.
2 p.m.
East Orlando Chamber of Commerce
The East Orlando Chamber of Commerce has cancelled the rest of this week’s events including Coffee Club East and Chicken Salad Chick’s Ribbon Cutting Event on Oct. 6.
The chamber office will close at noon on Thursday, Oct. 6 and closed all day Friday, Oct. 7.
University of Central Florida
In anticipation of Hurricane Matthew’s impact, UCF main campus classes will end at 3 p.m. and campus will close at 5 p.m. today. The university will remain closed Thursday through Saturday.
The Rosen College of Hospitality Management, Health Sciences at Lake Nona campus and Center for Emerging Media in downtown Orlando follow main campus closure protocols.
UCF regional campus locations will follow the decisions made by their respective host state college.
Additional information, including plans for students who live on campus and plan to ride out the storm at UCF, are available at www.ucf.edu.
Winter Park Autumn Art Festival
The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce and City of Winter Park regret to announce that due to the approach of Hurricane Matthew, the 43rd Annual Autumn Art Festival has been cancelled. Due to the massive amount of planning and logistics, the festival will not be rescheduled. The annual event celebrating Florida artists was set to take place on Saturday, Oct. 8, and Sunday, Oct. 9 in Central Park.
“Due to the strength of Hurricane Matthew, the unpredictable amount of rain and wind, and the number of public safety and general city personnel available, the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival has been cancelled,” said Mayor Steve Leary. “It is unfortunate to have to cancel the festival, one of our most widely anticipated and attended events. However, given the unforeseen path and impact of Hurricane Matthew, diverting resources to prepare for the event at this juncture would not be in keeping with our priority. Public safety is most important for our residents, guests, businesses and staff.”
The Park Avenue Sidewalk Sale will continue as planned from Thursday, Oct. 6, through Sunday, Oct. 9. Store hours and participation may vary.
Oct. 6, 10 a.m.
Orange County Residents
Make sure you’re going to the correct jurisdiction to get sandbags. Going to the wrong jurisdiction will result in no sandbags for your home.
Per City of Orlando, a good reminder to residents is to check their street sign:
If their street sign has a fountain logo, they are a City of Orlando resident and can pick up sandbags until 12 p.m. noon today from the City’s of Orlando Streets and Stormwater Division at 1010 Woods Avenue.
If their street sign has an orange logo, they are an Orange County resident and can pick up sandbags at the followng locations until 3 p.m. today (weather permitting).
Apopka – 3258 Clarcona Road
Bithlo – 18753 Old Cheney Highway
Goldenrod – 2530 N. Forsyth Rd.
John Young – 4200 S. John Young Pkwy.
Taft – 11442 Intermodal Way
Three Points – 4631 Young Pine Road
West Orange – 644 Beulah Road
Zellwood – 3400 Golden Gem Road
Residents must show proof of residence to be given sandbags, so it is critical they go to the appropriate jurisdiction sandbag distribution location.
Spooky Empire
The Orange County Convention Center will be closing on Friday, Oct. 7, so the Spooky Empire convention will not be open on this day.
Following are the details important for guests and ticket holders:
·Exhibitors, vendors and tattoo artists: Load in/set up is available Thursday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Then again, first thing Saturday morning.
·VIP Ticket Holders: Spooky Empire is moving the early VIP pick up to the Hyatt Regency tomorrow. More details to come as it will probably be earlier morning.
·Friday Only Ticket Holders: Spooky Empire will give the option to use the Friday pass on either Saturday or Sunday. For those who cannot attend Saturday or Sunday, Spooky Empire will refund the Friday pass after this weekend as long as the ticket has not been scanned. Please allow some time for the convention to get this system in order as it will not be able to happen this weekend.
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Due to the impending impact of Hurricane Matthew, the Thursday, Oct. 6 and Friday, Oct. 7, 2016 evening performances of both The Illusionists – Live from Broadway and TheatreWorks Florida’s production of Rock of Ages at Dr. Phillips Center have been cancelled.
At this time, all other performances will go on as scheduled.
Dr. Phillips Center, Broadway Across America and Florida Theatrical Association are working to add an additional performance of The Illusionists on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. Details on that newly scheduled performance will be announced as they are available. Subscribers and single-ticket holders will be notified as quickly as possible regarding potential rescheduling and/or refunds. Guests can continue to check www.drphillipscenter.org or the arts center’s Facebook and Twitter channels for additional updates.
FAIRWINDS Broadway in Orlando Season Subscribers with tickets to The Illusionists for Thursday and Friday performances can contact the Subscriber hotline at 800.448.6322 (Thursday & Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) for refunds and potential exchanges. Subscribers can also contact orlandoservice@broadwayacrossamerica.com.
Theme Parks
Coca-Cola Orlando Eye is closed on Oct. 6 and will re-open when weather conditions improve.
Legoland may close early on Oct. 6 and will be closed on Oct. 7.
SeaWorld will close at 2 p.m. on Oct. 6 and will remain closed on Oct. 7.
Universal Orlando has not made an official announcement about park closings.
Walt Disney World Resort has not made an official announcement about park closings but has cancelled the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party for Oct. 6.
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