The heavy rains stemming from Hurricane Joaquin as it turns east into the Atlantic Ocean have left parts of Beaufort County underwater and prompted area schools to close.

Beaufort County Schools were closed Monday and today because of flooded roads, with a decision for Wednesday to be made later today. The closings also included schools outside the public school system, including Unity Christian Academy, Pungo Christian Academy and Washington Montessori Charter School.

In an automated message sent to parents, Beaufort County Schools Superintendent Don Phipps said school officials were uncomfortable with having the buses travel in those kinds of conditions, and some students and staff are still unable to leave their homes. Today is an optional teacher workday, but Phipps urged employees to only come in if road conditions were safe.

“Decisions about delays, early dismissals and cancellations are difficult to make,” Phipps said in the message. “In the present situation, we have many roads in our county that are wet but easily passable. However, as of 1 p.m. (Monday) afternoon, there were at least 34 roads in our county that were covered (by some amount of water).”

“At this point, we do not feel it is safe to have our buses travelling in or near these areas,” he said.

The automated call was sent out around 2 p.m. yesterday. According to the current school calendar, the make-up days lined up for school closings are Nov. 25 and Feb. 15. Both were scheduled as teacher workdays.

“We are hopeful that the floodwaters will begin to recede soon,” Phipps said.

 

For updates on school closings, visit the Beaufort County Schools website at www.beaufort.k12.nc.us.