Stafford teachers, students, and parents faced challenges when officials issued a tornado warning. Our chat with a principal who worked to hold it together.

STAFFORD — It was at the end of the school day, and teachers and staff across Stafford County had to race to make sure all students were safe during a tornado warning.

The weather event brought an unusual end to the school day on Monday, Sept. 17. It which caused significant delays in getting elementary school students home on time.

“Students were released from the schools at 4:15 p.m. once the Tornado Warning was lifted,” Stafford County Public Schools spokeswoman Sherrie Johnson said. “Therefore, the buses ran late and the last students returned home at 6:00 p.m. It was a weather challenging day; however, SCPS staff pulled together as a team and ensured that all students made it home safely.”

Conway Elementary School Principal William “JR” Raybold said his students, staff, and parents faced challenges that day.

“The kiddos and staff were amazing,” Raybold said. “Our staff did an incredible job remaining calm so they could, in turn, help our kiddos remain calm. While we were delayed significantly in sending our kiddos home, everyone went home happy and safe.”

Busses were out and about on their middle school runs and getting ready to start their elementary school runs when the news of the bad weather struck.

“We decided it was best to bring the bus drivers in,” Raybold said. “I called transportation and told them to tell their drivers to come to Conway and come straight in.”

Parents who were in the car rider lines were also invited inside and provided shelter in case the tornado struck Conway.

“We ran out to get all of the drivers and car rider families waiting in the parking lot out of their buses and cars,” Raybold said. “They were in a very vulnerable position and the location of the system was tracking directly towards us.”

While the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for a doppler radar-indicated tornado, no damage was reported, and no one was injured. While the staff and students sheltered in place, many inside the school buildings were confused as to if the storm had already passed.

Teachers and school administrators were using radios to communicate with the school division’s central office telling them they heard the tornado threat had passed and if it was OK to reopen the school buildings. An official came back repeatedly instructing them not to take their cues from public media, and that the central office would tell them when it was safe to lift the lockdown.

“We were super proud of our kiddos, teachers, and parents,” Raybold said. “We are fortunate that it did not touch down here, but are at the ready should it ever happen again.”

The National Weather Service issues a tornado warning when a twister is spotted, or radar indicates there could be one in a specific area. A tornado watch means weather conditions are favorable for twisters to develop.

The number of tornados in Virginia varies each year from only one in 1982 to as many as 84 in 2004, the same hear the remnants of Hurricane Ivan spawned at least 10 in the state to include a funnel cloud over Manassas and Interstate 66.