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 SeptemberDetailed 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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