DeSoto County Public Schools will shut down all schools and district offices on Tuesday, November 3, and Wednesday, November 4, as flooding and road-safety concerns grip the Florida county. The closures come as the Peace River threatens to near major flood stage and heavy rain continues to soak the area.
The district said flooding and concerns regarding road safety throughout the community prompted the closures, according to Gulf Coast News and Weather. Florida's Department of Education confirmed the district's listing, noting that DeSoto County Schools will be closed both days. All after-school activities, including athletics and extracurricular events, have also been canceled on Tuesday and Wednesday, the district said.
DCPS has not yet decided whether classes will resume Thursday, November 5. The district said a decision regarding Thursday's operations will be made and communicated on Wednesday, adding that its team will continue to monitor flooding and road conditions overnight and throughout Tuesday to make safe decisions for the community.
Flood Warning Details
WBBH reported that DeSoto County's flash flood warning was in effect until 1:45 p.m. Monday. WINK News reported that a Flood Warning for the Peace River would remain in effect from that afternoon until further notice.
What is not in dispute is the rainfall total driving the crisis. Between 5 and 8 inches of rain had already fallen in the area, with another 2 to 3 inches expected, citing the National Weather Service. A separate count put the Arcadia total even higher, with more than 7.5 inches of rain falling there since midnight Monday, according to WINK News.
Peace River Climbing Toward Major Flood Stage
The National Weather Service issued a Flood Warning for the Peace River at SR-70 in Arcadia at 9:36 a.m. Monday. From there, forecasts diverge on timing: one report said the river's crest was expected to near major flood stage Tuesday night and could reach up to 15.9 feet, while WINK News reported the river would rise above flood stage Monday afternoon and continue climbing to a crest of 15.9 feet early Wednesday morning. Flood stage for the Peace River sits at 11 feet, and at 16 feet, up to 60 homes in the River Acres community could experience flooding, per the same WINK News report.
On the ground Monday, the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office reported flooding at NE Washington and NE Turner, Highway 17, the Brownville Dollar General's southbound lane, and Jerry's RV Park, according to MySuncoast.com. Officials asked drivers to stay out of the water after one vehicle was reported stuck, the station noted.
More Rain on the Way Across Florida
DeSoto County is not alone in grappling with flood-driven disruption. Brevard County Public Schools closed all schools Monday because flooding continued as heavy rain hit Central Florida, according to WESH. That same report said rain is expected to continue throughout the week, with another storm system expected late in the week and the potential for more widespread rainfall — a pattern that could keep pressure on already-swollen waterways like the Peace River.
For now, DeSoto County families are left watching river gauges and waiting on word from the district. DCPS has said only that it will communicate its decision on Thursday operations Wednesday, leaving open whether a third straight day of closures is ahead.
