All Hamilton County Schools will close early today due to a water main break that has affected a large portion of downtown Chattanooga and surrounding areas.
The county’s emergency management and homeland security office has alerted us that the issues caused by the water main break are continuing to grow throughout the county. ALL remaining schools will be dismissing on half-day schedule today (3.5 hrs after start time). (1 of 2)
— Hamilton County Schools (@hamcoschools) September 13, 2019
Transportation will run and elementary school students will be given sack lunches. Afterschool childcare will also be canceled. We will provide an update on high school athletics shortly. (2 of 2)
— Hamilton County Schools (@hamcoschools) September 13, 2019
“All schools in Hamilton County Schools will close early today and follow the early release closing and bus schedule. The latest information from local Emergency Management indicates a continued problem with water delivery to schools due to a water main break downtown that will impact more schools during the day,” according to district spokesman Tim Hensley in a press release.
Red Bank Middle and High school were already scheduled to dismiss at 10:15 a.m. Friday and will proceed with that process. Brown Academy, Battle Academy, Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences, Chattanooga Center for Creative Arts, the Howard School, Howard Connect, Dawn Program and Normal Park were already closed Friday due to the water main break Thursday evening.
Superintendent Bryan Johnson had said earlier in the day Friday that he did not anticipate closing all schools.
School-age childcare at all schools will also be closed Friday afternoon and the district will release updated Friday night football game information later in the day.
Tennessee American Water has been working to repair a water main break that happened near its plant on Wiehl Street throughout the day Friday.
This is a developing story. Check back with the Time Free Press for updates.