Hurricane Michael Causes Court Closures in Florida

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn (Last updated October 18, 2018)

Several county courthouses in Florida closed due to Hurricane Michael – a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida on October 10, 2018, and caused catastrophic damage – and some have remained closed, according to a list of court closures on the Florida Supreme Court’s website.

The affected courts span several counties and many have remained closed due to major infrastructure damage in the area caused by Hurricane Michael. The Florida Supreme Court and the Fifth District Court of Appeal, once closed, have since reopened. Here are the remaining court closures as of October 18, 2018:

• Bay County, October 9-26; Calhoun County, October 9-24; Gulf County, October 9-19; Holmes County, October 9-22; Jackson County, October 9-26; Liberty County, Closed until further notice; and Washington County, October 9-24.

Due to Hurricane Michael, orders extending legal deadlines are being posted on the Florida Supreme Court website. Follow the Florida Supreme Court Twitter page and Facebook page to stay up to date. During emergencies, the Florida Supreme Court puts information on its emergency hotline at (850) 921-8552.

As of October 18, 2018, at least 33 deaths in the United States have been attributed to Hurricane Michael and that number could rise. Hurricane Michael was the third-most intense Atlantic hurricane to make landfall in the United States in terms of pressure behind the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane and Hurricane Camille in 1969.

In the past, ESR News has reported on court closures caused by Hurricane Florence, California Wine County Wildfires, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Harvey, Winter Storm Stella, Winter Storm Jonas, Winter Storm Juno, Winter Storm Janus, and Super Storm Sandy. For more about court closures, click here.

How to Help Hurricane Michael Victims

People can assist charities helping Hurricane Michael victims by making a donation and/or by donating blood to OneBlood, Lifesafe, or the American Red Cross. People can let family and friends know they are safe through the American Red Cross Safe and Well page and Facebook’s Hurricane Michael Crisis Response page.

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