In anticipation of Hurricane Milton, Lake-Sumter State College will close all campus locations and cancel all classes and activities beginning at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, October 8 and remain closed on Wednesday, October 9 and Thursday, October 10.
Any classes scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm or later on Tuesday, October 8 are canceled.
Lake-Sumter State College will reopen all campus locations and resume classes on Monday, October 14.
Additional updates will be sent through the LSSC Alert system, email, and social media.
Please note that during this time there will be no access to any facilities on LSSC campuses. For your safety and others, do not attempt to visit any LSSC campus during this closure.
STUDENTS – If your instructor has updates regarding coursework, they will communicate with you through your Lakehawk email or Canvas.
Please be prepared and stay informed regarding Hurricane Milton and impacts to our area by watching the local news and signing up to receive emergency alerts from county officials. Visit www.floridadisaster.org and www.alertflorida.com for preparedness information.
Campus Partner Updates
- Cooper Memorial Library will be closed from 4pm on October 8 through October 11.
- UCF and UCF Connect offices will be closed from October 8 through 11.
- Pinecrest Lake Middle High School will be closed from October 8 through 11.
Update 4 – October 11, 6:00 pm (Reopening)
Lake-Sumter State College will reopen all campus locations and resume classes on Monday, Oct. 14. Students and employees should plan to report on Monday on a normal schedule.
As we prepare to reopen the College, we are aware that Hurricane Milton impacted different areas of our counties in varying ways. We continue to recognize that individuals may be experiencing a significant disruption. Students should communicate with their instructors regarding their individual situation. Employees should contact their supervisor or Human Resources.
The College’s Student Affairs Team is available to connect students with College and community resources for a range of concerns, including:
- Housing and rental issues
- Financial difficulties and/or food insecurity
- Emotional distress
- Temporary or permanent physical, emotional, or learning disabilities
Students should contact deanofstudents@lssc.edu for assistance.
Employees in need of similar assistance should contact their supervisor, division VP, or HR@lssc.edu.
LSSC is committed to providing you with the support you need to be successful, so please do not hesitate to ask for assistance.
We are incredibly appreciative of the first responders, lineworkers, clean-up crews, and countless others in our communities and across the state who are working around the clock to support recovery efforts.
Update 3 – October 10, 7:00 pm
All LSSC campuses will remain closed on Friday, October 11. For your safety, please do not come to any campus location.
The College’s Emergency Management team has conducted an initial assessment of each campus today and will conduct a thorough assessment of each building tomorrow. Designated essential personnel from Facilities, IT, Security, and ABM will return to campus to begin recovery efforts.
Additional updates will be provided once the damage assessments are complete.
As we prepare to reopen the College, we are aware that Hurricane Milton impacted different areas of our counties in varying ways. The College’s Student Affairs Team is available to connect students with College and community resources for a range of concerns, including:
- Housing and rental issues
- Financial difficulties and/or food insecurity
- Emotional distress
- Temporary or permanent physical, emotional, or learning disabilities
Students should contact deanofstudents@lssc.edu for assistance.
Employees needing similar assistance, should contact their supervisor, division VP, or HR@lssc.edu.
Update 2 – October 10, 10:30 am
All campuses will remain closed on Friday, October 11.
Update 1 – October 8, 2:30 pm
As we prepare and brace for Hurricane Milton to impact Florida, our greatest concern is the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, staff, and friends of the College. We want each of you to be able to receive the support and assistance that you may need.
Remember that the College will close today at 4:00 pm and remain closed on Wednesday, Oct. 9 and Thursday, Oct. 10. Our damage assessment teams expect to be able to complete their initial review of each campus on Thursday evening. After those reviews are complete, an announcement about Friday, Oct. 11 will be shared by 7:00 pm on Thursday.
During the storm, if you have urgent needs, we encourage you to contact your county’s emergency operations center (numbers below) or in an emergency, dial 911. Please know that during the worst of the storm, first responders may not be able to respond.
- Lake County Citizen Information Line: Open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., call 352-253-9999
- Sumter County Citizen Information Line: Open 24/7, call 352-689-4400
If you do not live in Lake or Sumter County, please visit https://www.floridadisaster.org/disaster-updates/Hurricanemilton/ to find the link to your county’s information.
After the storm passes and we begin recovery efforts, LSSC will provide additional information about available resources and support available to the Lakehawk family.
Please look for College updates to come from LSSC Alert, email, social media and at www.lssc.edu/storm.
Stay safe, Lakehawks!
Citizen Information Lines
- Lake County: Open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., call 352-253-9999
- Sumter County: Open 24/7, call 352-689-4400
Emergency Shelters – Lake County
Visit https://c.lakecountyfl.gov/storm/ or call the Citizens Information Line for more information.
Lake County will open 15 shelters for those who need accommodations during the storm. The shelters will open Tuesday, Oct. 08, at 12 p.m. Residents are encouraged to bring necessary supplies such as medication, bedding, and a pet carrier or crate.
- East Ridge High – 13322 Excalibur Road, Clermont
- East Ridge Middle – 13201 Excalibur Road, Clermont
- Eustis High – 1300 E. Washington Ave., Eustis
- Leesburg High – 1401 Yellow Jacket Way, Leesburg
- Mount Dora High – 700 N. Highland St., Mt. Dora
- Tavares High – 603 N. New Hampshire Ave., Tavares
Pet-Friendly Shelters:
- Mascotte Elementary – 460 Midway Ave., Mascotte
- Round Lake Elementary – 31333 Round Lake Road, Mt. Dora
- Spring Creek Elementary – 44440 Spring Creek Road, Paisley
- Treadway Elementary – 10619 Treadway School Road, Leesburg
Pet-Friendly and Special-Needs Shelters:
- Leesburg Elementary – 2229 South St., Leesburg
- Lost Lake Elementary – 1901 Johns Lake Rd., Clermont
- Astatula Elementary – 13925 Florida Ave., Astatula
- Umatilla Elementary – 401 Lake St., Umatilla
- Villages Elementary – 695 Rolling Acres Rd., Lady Lake
Residents who need help getting to a shelter should call the Citizens Information Line to schedule their travel. LakeXpress, Lake County’s fixed-route bus system, will be providing free rides on Wednesday to travelers who state they need to be taken to a shelter. Free rides will continue to be given until conditions become unsafe. Riders must tell the driver they are going to a shelter to use the free ride.
Emergency Shelters – Sumter County
Visit https://www.sumtercountyfl.gov/1109/Shelters or call the Citizens Information Line for more information.
Residents are encouraged to bring necessary supplies such as medication, bedding, and a pet carrier or crate. All shelters are pet-friendly.
- Sumter Fairgrounds – 7620 SR 471, Webster
- South Sumter High School – 706 N. Main St, SR 475, Bushnell
- Wildwood Elementary School – 300 Huey Street, Wildwood
- Webster Elementary School – 349 S Market Blvd, SR 471, Webster
- Center Hill Recreation Center – 74 S. Virginia Avenue, Center Hill
Special Needs Shelter:
- Wildwood Community Center – 6500 Powell Road, Wildwood