Several schools close in wake of flooding

Hamilton County Schools officials are waiting until this morning to decide whether to close any schools in the wake of significant area flooding.

Danielle Clark, spokesman for the school system, said the district would evaluate whether schools would be open or closed today after the buses made their final runs Monday evening. Only two Hamilton County schools, Clifton Hills and Falling Water elementaries, were closed Monday.

In North Georgia, continuing rain forced five area school systems to close today, and forecasters said there's more wet weather on the way. Classes are canceled today in Catoosa County, Chattooga County, Chickamauga City, Trion City and Walker County schools, while some other systems were waited until this morning to make a decision on closing.

North Georgia school officials said they will post closures on their Web sites this morning or communicate with parents through "SchoolCast" or similar notification systems that make contact by phone, text or e-mail.

In the Chattanooga area, 3.41 inches of rain fell during the 24-hour period ending at 4:30 p.m. Monday, the Weather Service reported, while 9.51 inches fell over the past seven days.

Rainfall totals for the 24-hour period up to 8 a.m. Monday stood at more than 7 inches of rain in the LaFayette, Ga., area with another couple of inches possible by this morning, National Weather Service meteorologist Mat Sena said.

Forecasters say the rain is the product of a low-pressure system being held in place over the Southeast by low-pressure systems in the Atlantic and in the Gulf of Mexico. Rain remains in the forecast through the week, officials said.

In Hamilton County, McBrien Elementary School was open for business Monday after being closed Thursday and Friday for flooding from last week, but severe flooding closed Clifton Hills and Falling Water elementary schools about an hour before classes were to begin, officials said.

Ms. Clark said district officials thought they would be able to hold classes at the two schools until about 7 a.m. Monday. The roads surrounding Clifton Hills had so much water they were impassable, and the power at Falling Water was out, Ms. Clark said.

Predictions of another couple of inches of rain were "pretty representative of Catoosa, Walker, Chattooga, Dade and Whitfield" counties, Mr. Sena said of expected rainfall totals overnight.

On Monday, heavy rains and widespread flooding in North Georgia closed schools in Catoosa, Chattooga, Chickamauga, Trion and Walker counties while forcing an early dismissal for Whitfield County students.

Walker County Schools spokeswoman Elaine Womack said county coordinator David Ashburn called off schools early Sunday night, giving officials the time to notify parents easily before Monday morning.

"Our concern was the children being out in the rain in the dark waiting on buses," she said.

Catoosa County schools closed Monday after flood waters swamped roads all over the county, including Poplar Springs Road, home to the county's new Heritage High School, officials said.

Catoosa County dispatchers said between 20 and 30 roads were closed throughout the day as flood waters rose and fell.

Dade County school buses couldn't travel some flooded roads on Monday, but classes were in session anyway, Superintendent Patty Priest said.

"We had a few roads our buses couldn't get down, but we felt like we should have school as best we could," she said.

Ms. Priest said officials at the central office in Trenton stayed in close contact with county emergency officials and kept a keen eye on a nearby creek.

"Lookout Creek is just down from our office, and that's a really good indication of what's happening," she said.

Whitfield County students dashed home Monday after a half-day of classes, according to officials.

Elementary school students were dismissed at 11 a.m., and middle and high schoolers were dismissed at noon, spokesman Eric Beavers said.

The school system escaped Monday's deluge with minimal damage, he said.

"We did have some minor roof leaks, but no damage to our buildings due to the heavy rain," Mr. Beavers said.