Hurricane Harvey Louisiana: Calcasieu Parish Schools To Reopen

LAKE CHARLES, LA — Calcasieu Parish students should prepare to learn, because all schools and facilities will open Thursday as Tropical Storm Harvey — formerly known as Hurricane Harvey — crawls through the state.

The school system, which closed Tuesday and Wednesday, made the announcement Wednesday.

"While we know we still have families of both students and employees in flood situations who may not be able to leave their areas, we are committed to working with those individuals on attendance issues," the statement on the website said. (For more information on Harvey and other Louisiana stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

A flash flood warning is in effect for the western half of the parish, and some students might have trouble getting to school.

Bus drivers will not travel on roads that appear impassable "for obvious safety reasons," the school system said. Streets in Vinton were flooded Wednesday, and Interstate 10 westbound was closed for traffic.

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office said Wednesday it had rescued residents in Sulpher and Iowa, and some were evacuated in Vinton.

"An important first step in returning our parish to normalcy is the opening of our schools. We ask for your patience in all aspects of the reopening process," school officials said.

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles said Harvey is weakening as it slowly moves inland. Excessive rain will likely continue through Thursday. Flash flooding is likely due to already-soaked soil. Calcasieu Parish will remain under a flash flood watch through Thursday evening.

An additional 5 to 10 inches of rain is possible. The National Weather Service extended a flash flood warning for western Calcasieu Parish until 8:15 PM (Central) time Wednesday.

Between 8 and 30 inches of rain have already fallen over the past 5 days and flash flooding was happening in some areas.

A flood warning continues for Bundick Creek at Bundick Lake, as well as the Calcasieu River, near Oakdale, Glenmora, Oberlin, Kinder, Old Town Bay, Salt Water Barrier. The west fork of the Calcasieu River at Sam Houston Jones State Park is also under a flood warning.

Other rivers under flood warnings include Bayou Anacoco, near Rosepine, and the Sabine River, near Bon Wier, Deweyville and Orange.

Moderate to major flooding was already happening or projected for the Sabine River and the Calcasieu River.

All Calcasieu Parish School Board schools and facilities will be open on Thursday, August 31st. pic.twitter.com/0uSKILCHDO
— CPSB (@CPSBschools) August 30, 2017

Photo credit: Pixabay