Hurricane Michael path: Columbia County prepares for impacts

Tuesday update: The Columbia County School District says schools will be closed in the county on Wednesday and Thursday in preparation of Hurricane Michael.

The district said in a statement: "Due to Hurricane Michael, all of the Columbia County Schools will be closed Wednesday, October 10 and Thursday, October 11.  The worst part of Hurricane Michael will be from noon Wednesday to noon Thursday.  We remain in contact with county Emergency Management and do not feel it is safe to transport students in these conditions.  Schools will re-open on Friday, October 12 and all activities will resume as normal.  Thank you and please be safe."

More on school closures.

Columbia County is one of the areas included in Gov. Rick Scott’s state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Michael, and the

the storm.

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Our cameras were rolling Monday as people stocked up on the essentials -- including bottled water, generators and flashlights -- at Lowe’s in Lake City.

Columbia County Fire and Rescue officials said they will likely activate the Emergency Operations Center on Tuesday afternoon.

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“You can never be too prepared. I would rather have too much water, too much food,” Betsy Griffis said as her family loaded up its pick-up truck with supplies.

“(The Lake City Lowe’s location is) getting full trucks of water, generators and sand by the end of the day (Monday),” Lowe’s store manager Adam O’Steen said.

County emergency officials said there are no evacuation orders in Columbia County as of Monday afternoon, and no shelters are open there at the moment.

STORY: Florida State University, Florida A&M to close due to Hurricane Michael

Columbia County Emergency Management officials also released the following information:

"Columbia County emergency officials are monitoring Hurricane Michael as it moves north across the Gulf of Mexico and will share information as it becomes available.

"Local impacts will depend greatly on the progression of the storm and its forward motion over the next 24 hours.

"Currently, there is no immediate threat to the area. Based on the present storm model tropical storm force wind conditions (wind speed between 39 MPH and 73 MPH) are expected in Columbia County, with initial winds anticipated to arrive early Wednesday morning.

"Rain fall projections for the area are estimated at 2” – 3”, with some areas seeing slightly more.

"Columbia County Emergency Management recommends preparing your emergency supply kit for the storm.

"The list includes:
•    Non-perishable food and can opener
•    Bottled water
•    First-aid kit
•    Prescription medication
•    Hygiene items 
•    Battery-operated radio
•    Spare batteries
•    Flashlights
•    Extra clothing
•    Extra cash
•    Fill up your vehicle gas tank"

Unless there are any situational changes, the next update from Columbia County Emergency Management will be early in the afternoon on Tuesday.

RELATED: Official updates from the National Hurricane Center 

Cox Media Group