Home Local News Schools go virtual, Rockingham cancels meeting in anticipation of strong storms

Schools go virtual, Rockingham cancels meeting in anticipation of strong storms

RO file photo

ROCKINGHAM — The threat of severe weather on Tuesday has led to several governmental schedule changes.

Richmond County Schools announced Monday afternoon that Tuesday, Jan. 9 will be “will be a remote learning day for ALL Richmond County Schools students.” The decision was made “out of an abundance of caution,” the school system posted on its Facebook page.

Tuesday will be an optional workday for staff, who will be allowed to leave at 1 p.m.

“All students received assignments or instructions before leaving school today,” the post concludes. “In addition, all after school activities including athletic events for Tuesday will be canceled. The safety of our staff and students remains our top priority.”

Likewise, City Manager Monty Crump sent out an email saying that the Rockingham City Council meeting was canceled for January.

Crump cited the forecasted severe weather for Tuesday afternoon and evening as the reason.

“It is a very light agenda and all business will be moved to (the) February meeting,” Crump said.

Click here to read a preview of the next meeting.

Richmond County is under a wind advisory from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Tuesday, and a flood watch from 9 a.m.-midnight.

According to the National Weather Service: “South or southeasterly winds will increase to 15 to 25 mph, with gusts between 35 and 45 mph expected during the afternoon and evening Tuesday,” across all of central North Carolina, including the Sandhills.

Winds are expected to peak from 2-10 p.m. and could result in power outages.

In addition to the wind, forecasters are calling for 1.5-3 inches of rain, “most of which will fall during a short period of time in heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon and evening… .”

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That rainfall could lead to flooding of low-lying areas, according to NWS.

The Hamlet City Council, which generally meets the second Tuesday of each month, had already moved its first meeting of the new year to Jan. 18.

The Richmond County Board of Commissioners had moved its first meeting of 2024 to Jan. 9 because of the holiday.

Chairman Jeff Smart said, as of 6 p.m., the meeting was still on, but a final decision may be made around noon Tuesday.

The county announced on its Facebook page that all box sites will close at 1 p.m. Tuesday and a decision on closing the transfer station on Walter Kelly Road will be made at noon.



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