Schools, facilities and companies are preparing for the impact of Helene

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – School districts across the Lowcountry are monitoring Helene’s weather conditions and announcing changes to their class schedules.

Allendale, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Jasper, Orangeburg and Williamsburg counties are all under a tropical storm warning. Tornado warnings have popped up sporadically as the storm passes.

Here’s a look at the schedule changes districts announced:

Berkeley County School District

The Berkeley County School District will transition to an eLearning day on Friday. All after-school activities and after-school care programs close at 6:00 PM on Thursday. All schools and offices will be closed on Friday and before- and after-school care programs will be canceled.

Charleston County School District

The Charleston County School District will transition to an eLearning day on Friday. School and district buildings are closed.

Kaleidoscope and all other extracurricular activities and after-school programs scheduled for tomorrow are canceled, but high school track meets will be held on Friday evening.

Dorchester district 2

Dorchester District 2 will transition to eLearning on Friday. All after-school programs and extracurricular activities on Thursdays are canceled.

Dorchester district 4

Dorchester District 4 canceled all after-school activities for Thursday and will transition to an eLearning day on Friday. District leaders say they made the decision based on overnight rain forecast, in addition to persistent winds and possible gusts in the early morning hours.

Beaufort County School District

The Beaufort County School District will have an eLearning day and a remote work day on Friday, assuming electrical and internet services are functioning. District buildings will be closed. All after-school activities are canceled on Thursday and Friday.

Colleton County School District

Update: The Colleton County School District has transitioned to eLearning as of Friday morning.

Georgetown County

The Georgetown County School District will transition to eLearning on Friday.

Orangeburg County School District

Orangeburg County schools canceled all after-school activities on Thursday and announced they will hold an eLearning day on Friday.

Other schools

The following individual schools have also announced schedule changes:

Dorchester County Career and Technology Center: The Dorchester County Career & Technology Center will transition to eLearning on Friday.
First Baptist School of Charleston canceled school for Friday.
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College: Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College has canceled classes beginning Thursday at 5 p.m. The college is closed on Friday.
Palmetto Christian Academy: Palmetto Christian Academy will have a home learning day on Friday.
South Carolina State University: South Carolina State University cancels classes for Thursday after 5 p.m. The university will be delayed by three hours on Friday. Classes start and offices open at 11:30 am on Friday. Essential employees must report according to a normal schedule.
Charleston Southern University: CSU has transitioned to eLearning for Friday, with campus offices remaining closed until 10 a.m
Trident Technical College: All activities, including classes and those of campus offices, will take place virtually on Friday.

Other organizations

City of Charleston: The City of Charleston has postponed the opening of all city facilities and offices and will not open them until 10 a.m. Friday.
Charleston County Government: All provincial offices and facilities open at noon.
Berkeley County Government: County offices and facilities have a delayed opening at 10 a.m
Boone Hall Plantation: The Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch is closed Friday. Boone Hall plans to be open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and all other days as scheduled. Those who purchased tickets for Friday can use those tickets on any other day the event is open this season. (Boone Hall Fright Nights will be open as scheduled on Friday and Saturday evenings.)
Charleston City Market: The kickoff of the Charleston City Market’s Night Market, which featured more than 30 businesses receiving the “Handmade in Charleston” designation, originally scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed until Oct. 24.
Charleston County Public Library: The West Ashley branch of the Charleston County Public Library closes Thursday at 3 p.m. All other branches and offices close at 6:00 PM. Bookdrops and automated material returns are also closed during this period. Customers are asked not to leave items outside the book drops. The branches will reopen at 11 a.m. on Friday.
Charleston County Public Library Board of Directors: The Charleston County Public Library Board of Trustees meeting, previously scheduled for Thursday, will now take place on Oct. 3 at 5:30 p.m. at the Mt. Pleasant Library.
Daufuskie Island-Lowcountry Ferry Service: Lowcountry Ferry closes early Thursday and Friday. The ferry service closed at 1 p.m. on Thursday. It is expected to reopen on Friday at 1 p.m.
Unveiling of the Marion Square Fountain Statue: The Rotary Club of Charleston’s unveiling of bronze artist Scott Penegar’s final Marion Square Fountain sculpture, originally scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed until Oct. 3 at 4 p.m.
Monck’s corner: The City of Moncks Corner offices open at 10am
North Charleston Police Department: The free Narcan distribution event “Save-a-Life Day” at Seacoast Church in West Ashley, scheduled for Thursday, has been canceled. The event will be rescheduled in the future.
South Carolina Highway Patrol: The graduation ceremony for the South Carolina Highway Patrol Training Class 126, scheduled for Friday, has been canceled.
South Carolina Aquarium: The aquarium doesn’t open until 12 noon.

This is a development story. Check back for more information.