Vernonia Schools Prepare for the Worst

School officials say they will keep a watchful eye on the river levels throughout the night; they also say they can use some financial assistance.

Vernonia Oregon's high school after floodwaters hit Courtesy: vernoniafloodinfo.blogspot.com

(VERNONIA, Ore.) - The Vernonia School District is prepared for the worst. Thirteen months after the flood of 2007 the District is taking no chances on being caught off guard.

Dr. Kenneth Cox, Superintendent, says, "We have been monitoring the weather and the river levels and have made arrangements to deal with whatever comes."

He says that as a safety precaution, there will be no school tomorrow, Thursday January 8th due to the potential for water over the roadways throughout the Vernonia School District.

Cox says there are four large U-Haul trucks on site, one of which is already loaded with classroom furniture from our lowest classroom, Cox said.

"We have a semi-trailer on the way to store the new wood and metal shop equipment that replaced what was lost in the last flood," Cox said.

"We have loaded a freezer truck with approximately $30,000 worth of frozen food to get it out of harms way. This is the second time this year that this food has been moved due to concern over potential flooding."

The last time was New Year's Day and then it was all put back last Saturday.

Barb Carr, Admin Assistsant with Vernonia Schools, says they will keep a watchful eye on the river levels throughout the night. Sump pumps will be on site to deal with any minor flooding that might occur and arrangements have been made for crews to be on standby early tomorrow morning to lift the removable gym floor if necessary.

I asked her if students in Vernonia are becoming accustomed to the severe weather disruptions, she says that while the students are as well adjusted as possibli, it is still very disruptive.

"I don't think so. My daughter in high school says all of the students are talking about it. Their lives were disrupted. They're all feeling the anxiety."

"We have invested too much in our gym to lose the floor now. The Vernonia School District will deal with whatever comes, but we really need your help. There is a great deal of anxiety in Vernonia right now. We have to move our schools out of the flood plain so the devastation and personal trauma to our students, staff and their families does not happen again," Cox said.

Carr says they have been moving things over at the the schools to prepare as well as possible. The students and staff here have been through a lot and they need the help of other Oregonians and Americans who want them to succeed.

If you would like to help please contact school superintendent, Dr. Kenneth Cox at 503-429-5891 for more information. They really need all they can get.

The schools in the area are Washington Elementary, Vernonia Middle School and Vernonia High. All Middle School students are already in modular trailers. The only thing left from the original middle school building, the gymnasium, has been taken over by the high school.