Despite cancellations along the Gulf Coast, so far student transportation operations are weathering the first major storm of the hurricane season
Several schools were closed on Friday, due to the expected landfall of Tropical Storm Barry on the Gulf Coast. Several school cancellations continued throughout the weekend and Monday.
Barry made landfall on Sunday afternoon and was classified as a Category 1 hurricane, but was then downgraded to a tropical storm. Barry is bringing heavy rainfall for many parts of Louisiana as it slowly continues on its northern trajectory.
Lafayette Parish School System in New Orleans opened its facilities on Monday, but all student academic and summer feeding programs remained closed. A spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Education told School Transportation News that school buses are being provided in case an evacuation is ordered.
New Orleans Parish also announced school cancelations on Monday at its website. The Orleans Parish School Board stated it will cancel a late enrollment event that was scheduled for Monday, due to the Tropical Storm Barry.
Elsewhere n Louisiana, other cancellations due to Barry occurred over the weekend, including many downtown events, urgent care centers, the Louisiana Supreme Courts, Broussard Sports Complex and other places.
The storm is projected to travel north through Arkansas and Missouri. However, because schools are currently on summer vacation schedules, the storm will have little if any effect on student transportation.
The Arkansas Department of Education communications director told School Transportation News that public schools and school transportation will not likely be affected by Barry.
Toyin Akinola, director of transportation for St. Louis Public Schools, echoed that comment, noting that schools are not in session, so they are not currently affected by the storm.
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Despite little damage being projected for school transportation in the south, the storm has still left many people without power and caused heavy flooding. An evacuation order was announced for several parishes across Louisiana.
Meanwhile, Barry dropped up to 15 inches of rain, creating life-threatening conditions across the Mississippi River region. The latest forecast projects that Louisiana and Mississippi should see heavy rainfall through Thursday.
The National Weather Service said on Monday that Barry continues to threaten flash flooding and heavy rainfall in some areas.
