Georgia: Schools open today after more bad weather

High winds and resulting power outages extended spring break from a few area schools Monday, but all should be back in class today, officials said.

The power outages were caused by high winds that blasted Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia early Monday, coming only three days after tornadoes and heavy rains barreled through much of the region on Good Friday.

By Monday afternoon power was restored, and schools are expected to open on a regular schedule today, officials said.

All schools in Catoosa County were closed because buildings were without power Monday, and students from Fairyland Elementary School in Walker County were sent home in mid-morning because of continued problems with power.

“We went ahead and picked up and delivered (students on Monday), thinking it would come back sometime in the morning,” Walker County Schools spokeswoman Elaine Womack said.

When the power didn’t come back on before lunch, Fairyland dismissed, she said.

Catoosa County Schools spokeswoman Marissa Brower said, in addition to forcing schools to be closed, winds damaged roofs at Ringgold Primary School.

“We had eight schools this morning without power,” said Mrs. Brower.

She said school officials received advice from the sheriff’s office to keep buses off the roads.

“There were so many power lines down,” she said.

The weather picture should be a bit calmer today, according to the National Weather Service.

The forecast calls for a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before mid-afternoon today. West winds between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph, are expected.

Staff writer Mike O’Neal contributed to this report.