SCHOOLS TO CLOSE AS HURRICANE PREPARATIONS INTENSIFY

The Department of Education has announced that all schools across the Turks and Caicos Islands, including the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, will be closed from Monday, October 27, 2025, until further notice as the country prepares for the potential impact of Hurricane Melissa.

Forecasters warn that the system could bring heavy rainfall and possible flooding beginning as early as Tuesday evening, October 28, 2025. The early closure is a proactive safety measure to ensure that schools designated as emergency shelters are secured and readied ahead of the storm’s arrival.

All principals and staff of public schools are required to report to their respective campuses on Monday, October 27 to assist with the following preparations:

·        Securing school property and educational resources

·        Coordinating initial cleaning of areas designated for shelter use

·        Assisting in the safe setup of shelter spaces in collaboration with the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME)

Parents and guardians, particularly those residing in low-lying or flood-prone areas, are urged to make necessary preparations to protect life and property and to seek refuge at designated shelters when necessary.

A full list of official shelter locations can be found on the DDME website: www.gov.tc/ddme

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For urgent inquiries, please contact: Department of Education: (649) 338-4804 or (649) 338-3809; DDME: (649) 244-3363 or (649) 225-3363.

Authorities are reminding the public to stay informed through official government updates and to complete all hurricane preparations as soon as possible.