|
Storm’s
remnants flood local roads, close schools early
September
28, 2004
By TASHA
STEIMER and SHAVONNE POTTS
Index-Journal
staff writers
 |
| Brewer Middle School
students were among all District 50 students released
from class early Monday, as officials feared heavy rains
from Tropical Depression Jeanne would cause hazards on
local roads. | School children
went home early in Greenwood and the Lakelands experienced
heavy rains Monday as Tropical Depression Jeanne moved through
the state.
At least 3.4 inches of rain had fallen as of
presstime Monday night, and forecasters feared the downpours
could trigger flooding. The state remains on a flood watch
into tonight.
A flash flood warning for Greenwood and
Abbeville counties was in effect until 9 p.m. Monday.
A
Duke Power spokesman said about 800 customers were without
power Monday night in the Bradley area. A tree fell across a
power line.
“We are ready to respond to anything that may
arise,” Lee Lewis Jr., community affairs manager, said.
CPW
general manager Steve Reeves said the utility had been
actively trimming trees in advance of the latest round of
storms. Crews were on standby to respond to outages resulting
from trees being uprooted by winds and soggy soil and falling
on lines.
Meanwhile, schools responded to Jeanne’s visit
by granting a small break from classes.
Bill Steed,
superintendent for Greenwood School District 50, said the
district wanted to get buses on the roads early to avoid any
problems with wind and rain.
“Worse weather is supposed to
be coming in the next few hours,” he said Monday afternoon.
“It’s already worse than it was an hour ago.”
Elementary
students were released at 1:30 p.m., middle schools dismissed
students at 2:15 and classes at the high schools ended at
2:30.
Steed said the district would review the situation
this morning before it would make the decision to delay or
cancel classes. Students at Greenwood Christian School were
dismissed 15 minutes early Monday.
Schools in Ninety Six
released their students at 1:30 p.m., and announced a one-hour
delay this morning. Schools in McCormick County also dismissed
students Monday at 12:30 p.m.
Cancellations because of the
storm included a dedication and dinner at Self Regional
Healthcare to honor hospital volunteers. The ceremony was
postponed until Oct. 4.
Times for the events – 5:30 p.m.
for the dedication of the wall of honor and 6:30 p.m. for the
appreciation dinner – will remain the same.
Also, the
board of trustees for the McCormick County School District
postponed a meeting and school tour from Monday until Oct.
4.
The regular meeting will begin at 7 p.m. after an
executive session at 6. Board members will tour the new school
building prior to executive session.
Bob Smith, Greenwood
County’s emergency preparedness director, said his office was
keeping a close watch out for fallen trees, downed power lines
and flooding.
“The police department, fire departments –
everyone’s on call,” he said. “We’ll keep monitoring it as a
precaution.”
Although it is just a precaution, Smith said
the county was in contact with the American Red Cross in case
a shelter needs to be opened.
Henry Deason, county
emergency services director for McCormick County, said the
county lucked out again as far as not getting hit head on by
another hurricane this year.
“We’re watching it really
close and keeping in touch with the National Weather Service,”
he said. “(The NWS) assured me we’re not in the worst area.
We’re west of where tornadoes could start so we shouldn’t have
any problems.”
Deason said flooding could be a problem,
but the county is also keeping an eye on its waterways
especially on the south end of the county.
Saluda County
Emergency Preparedness Director Frank Wood said the county was
watching several weather systems around the county for
tornadoes.
National Weather Service meteorologist Dan
Miller said Saluda County was under a tornado watch for a time
Monday afternoon. A “possible tornadic event” was forecast
near the Greenwood, Newberry, Saluda counties line, but no
tornado was sighted there. A later tornado wrecked a house in
Newberry County, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
Miller said
the forecast for today is mostly cloudy conditions with
morning showers and thunderstorms possible.
Steve McDade,
emergency management director for Abbeville County, said his
office was watching and waiting like other counties.
“We’re keeping a close eye on roads in case of flash
flooding. The ground is already saturated, and it definitely
looks like we’ll get more rain than the last (storm).”
TV’s The Weather Channel reported flooding of roads in
Abbeville Monday night.
McDade said the National Weather
Service told him the county could anticipate as much as six
inches of rain from the storm.
“We’ll stay prepared for
the worst and hope for the best,” he said.
| |
|
|
|
| | |
|
|
