After Hurricane Irma: Tampa Bus System Resumes Operation; USF Reopens

TAMPA, FL — Life in Tampa Bay was slowly returning to normal after Hurricane Irma with bus service resuming in Tampa and the University of South Florida reopening on Wednesday. Most residents returned to their normal routines as many grocery stores and restaurants were back in business. You could even get a Starbucks coffee as many locations reopened, though some stores had limited selections.

Hillsborough County had closed all but one of its 45 shelters by Wednesday morning. Hyde Park Presbyterian Church, 1309 W. Swann Ave. in Tampa, still had about 50 to 60 evacuees, a county official said.

Parents will need to find activities for the kids for the rest of the week as Hillsborough and Pinellas schools won't resume classes until Monday, Sept. 18. At Saint Leo University in Pasco County and Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, classes also will resume on Monday. Along with USF, the University of South Florida St. Petersburg also reopened Wednesday, but normal class schedules won't begin until Thursday.

Watch: Hurricane Irma's Destructive Journey By The Numbers

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University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee is currently without electricity, so its reopening will be delayed.

Hillsborough Area Regional Transit was operating on a Saturday service level Wednesday morning, but hoped to begin regular weekday service by noon. No streetcar service in downtown Tampa will be available Wednesday.

The Hillsborough school district also cancelled all extracurricular activities and after-school programs for Thursday and Friday.

About 95 percent of Westfield Citrus Park retailers were open for business Wedneday, according to a mall spokeswoman. The Tampa mall did not lose power during the storm.

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Saint Leo University officials said damage assessment still is taking place: A number of trees are down and at least 60 rooms had water intrusion. Nearly 800 students and support personnel sought shelter at the college during Irma.

“I am so proud of our students and staff,” said Dr. William J. Lennox Jr., university president. “Our students remained respectful and calm. Our staff cared for our students and each other through this difficult time, demonstrating the university’s core values of community and respect."

Students and staff took refuge in the university’s three safe shelter spaces in Lewis Hall, Saint Edward Hall, and the offices of the Marion Bowman Activities Center. The shelter areas were at capacity.

Following the hurricane, officials on early Monday morning made an assessment of the campus, and students were able to return to most of the residence halls.

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