Cardinal weather journalist Kevin Myatt will be updating the latest weather news on Tropical Storm Debby and what it means for Virginia in a breaking news post. In this post, we’ll provide information on storm-related closings and other news. Local governments and other institutions can send updates to news@cardinalnews.org.
Virginia Western will be closed Friday
Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, which closed early on Thursday, will remain closed on Friday.
The school reported the closure on Facebook on Thursday.
Botetourt, Craig county schools to open Monday
Public schools in both Botetourt and Craig counties will remain closed Friday.
Both have rescheduled their first day of the new school year for Monday.
Pittsylvania schools to remain closed until Monday
Pittsylvania County Schools, which were closed Thursday due to the weather, will remain shuttered until Monday.
Superintendent Mark Jones made the announcement Thursday evening on the school division’s Facebook page.
Wythe County advises residents in flood plain to move vehicles
Wythe County has advised owners of recreational vehicles, watercraft, and trailers located within flood plains to relocate their property ahead of the storm.
“Our biggest concern is flash flooding,” said Chuck Parnell, Director of Wythe County Emergency Services. “Wythe County has hundreds of miles of creeks, streams, and river frontage. We urge residents in these areas to take extra caution as the storm moves in . . .If water levels rise, these vehicles could be swept away. This not only risks property loss but could create a larger, more dangerous hazard downstream.”
Henry County administration building closes
Henry County has announced that the Henry County Administration Building will be closing at 2 p.m. Thursday, “as part of a shift in our readiness posture. This is a routine step in the County’s Emergency Operations Plan that will allow staff to allocate the proper resources throughout the county to respond in case of an emergency.”
West Piedmont health department offices closing
All health departments in the West Piedmont district will close today at noon due to worsening weather conditions. All afternoon clinic appointments will be rescheduled. This includes the Franklin County, Martinsville and Stuart offices.
“This decision was not made lightly,” said Dr. Kerry Gateley, West Piedmont Health District Director in a statement. “We consulted with weather and preparedness professionals before deciding to close for the safety of our clients and staff.”
Rain from the slow-moving Hurricane Debby will almost certainly result in localized flooding of creeks and streams, making travel hazardous. Conditions may continue into Friday, the health department advised.
Alleghany Highlands schools closing
Due to inclement weather, all Alleghany Highlands Public Schools offices will close at noon on Thursday, August 8. All in-person AHPS events scheduled after noon on Thursday are postponed, including the Covington Middle School Block Party and athletic practices. Depending on weather conditions, there may be additional updates. The public is advised to monitor official AHPS communication channels for more information.
The Elementary Extravaganza scheduled outdoors at Jackson River Sport Complex for August 8 has been canceled due to inclement weather. AHPS will now shift plans to focus on family night at each elementary school on the evening of August 26. Family night will differ from open houses scheduled for Monday, August 12. Details will be released soon.