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More on why Stafford County Public Schools closed today

We emailed Stafford County Public Schools spokeswoman Sherrie Johnson some questions this morning asking her about the decision to close schools today. 

Here’s our Q and A: 

PL: Can you tell us why schools were closed today? Flooding at school sites? Traffic? 

Johnson: High Water, impassable roads, and roads closed. 

Route 1 was closed at the Potomac Fire Station and was not expected to open until after rush hour. Other secondary roads were closed by downed trees.

PL: Were any students able to safely make it to class today? If so, any idea of how many?

Johnson: No 

PL: Were school buses stuck on area roadways? If so, how many? 

Johnson: No

PL: How does the school division weigh the safety of its students / employees sitting in traffic on flooded roads? How was this weighted into today’s decision to close? 

Johnson: The safety of our students and staff is our top priority for Stafford County Public Schools. 

Johnson also included this situation report in her email to us: 

 

Stafford County Emergency Management: 2016-09-29 Severe Weather (Rain) Situation Report:

  • Weather

o   Rain accumulations:

  • South County: approx. 3-6”
  • North County: approx. 3-6”
    up to 2-4” more rain is expected from now until Friday AM, 30 September

    Detailed Forecast

  • Today, 29 September – Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 73. East wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible. Tonight Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, then showers after 2am. Low around 66. East wind 10 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
  • Friday, 30 September – Showers. High near 72. Northeast wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Friday Night Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Northeast wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
  • Saturday, 1 October – A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Saturday Night A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
  • Sunday, 2 October – Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.
  • Roads

o   Road conditions:

  • Interstate: Clear with some water pockets – Traffic is moving VERY SLOW!
  • Primaries: Moderate
  • Secondaries: Severe (Limited)

o   Traffic lights out at 610 and Rte 1 (0740 SSO Traffic Units enroute)

o   Rte 1, all lanes, near Potomac Hills closed at 0501 for 3 hrs due to flooding (Stafford Alert)

o   Rte 1, 1 lane open at 0810 , near Potomac Hills (EM)

o   River Road closed (SSO FB)

o   Harrell Road Closed (SSO FB)

  • Power Outages (0900)

o   Dominion- 683 customers are out of power (down from a high of 4885) (Aquia Harbour Area is majority. Widewater Beach is also affected) Dominion Crews are on site in Aquia

o   REC-0

o   Novec-0

o   Northern Neck – 0

  • Ops Update:

o   SSO:

  • Traffic Units out in force
  • Deployed at 0200

 

o   Schools:

  • Stafford County Schools closed , Employees Code II, Liberal Leave in effect

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