Following the impact of Hurricane Francine, the Lafayette Parish School System (LPSS) has announced its re-opening plan. All LPSS schools and district offices will remain closed on Thursday, September 12, 2024, as the district prioritizes the safety and readiness of its facilities.

In a statement, LPSS acknowledged that many families may have evacuated prior to the hurricane’s landfall and could require additional time to return home. The district reiterated its commitment to keeping the community informed and will be conducting assessments of school campuses on Thursday morning to determine the extent of any damage or safety concerns.

“We understand the importance of timely updates,” LPSS said in their announcement. “An official decision regarding the reopening of campuses will be provided by noon on Thursday.”

District-level employees are expected to resume work at their offices on Friday, September 13, 2024, unless notified otherwise. LPSS also extended its thoughts and prayers to the communities east of Lafayette that were directly impacted by Hurricane Francine.

When the region begins the process of recovery, LPSS’s primary focus will remain on ensuring a safe environment for students, staff, and families.

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

Gallery Credit: KATELYN LEBOFF