Northwest Elementary may not be ready for school in September
Board of Education April 16, 2020
Northwest Elementary School may not ready by the time schools re-open in the fall was the general consensus of the Murray County Board of Education at Thursday’s meeting. Two tornadoes,
Northwest Elementary School suffered extensive damage after a tornado ripped through Murray County Easter Sunday.
which killed seven people, ripped through Murray County Sunday evening, with one tearing the roof off the elementary school.
“Right now, we just don’t know,” Steve Loughridge, Superintendent of Murray County Schools said. He added that he and the insurance adjuster had been to the site several times since Tuesday. “We are working to get Northwest back in shape as quickly as possible. We just don’t know how long that will take.”
Loughridge said part of the delay was the fact they had to make certain Northwest Elementary School was structurally sound before going in and after it was cleared, they were able to get a more accurate view of the damage.
The roof was torn off the gym and older part of the school which was built in the 1950’s. Glass was busted out in the large windows.
“There was extensive damage to the gym, the upper elementary wing, and the media center,” he said.
He said that all carpet, electrical and flooring will have to be replaced in the most severely damaged areas since they were underwater and electrical is housed in the roof. The newer side where lower elementary classes are had less damage, but Loughridge hopes they can replace the entire roof.
That’s the damage to the building. Most of the technology left in the school was ruined.
“Technology went in first and got all the computers out. They will be recycled and, of course, we documented everything,” he said.
Laughridge said a temporary roof has been installed so the drying out process can continue and will continue non-stop until it is dry.
“The biggest issue was power, but the company brought generators,” he said. “Fortunately, power was able to restored to parts of the school and by the end of the week, it should be as dry as it can get,” he said.
Loughridge said he was able to arrange through Governor Brian Kemp’s office permission for teachers to return to the school to retrieve personal belongings. The schools have been closed since March 13 to stem the COVID-19 pandemic.
The biggest issue, he said, is mold developing in the warm, wet school.
“The cleaning company cleans Emory Medical Center, so when they told me that, I felt confident they could handle Northwest Elementary,” he said.
Woodlawn Elementary and Bagley Middle School
While Northwest sustained the most damage, it wasn’t the only school to fall victim to the storms.
Bagley Middle School, which opened post-storm as a shelter, had roof damage and water damage. Insurance adjusters have come out and Loughridge estimates the damage to be around $100,000.
Woodlawn Elementary, which is beside Bagley, lost their sign and Loughridge estimates replacing it will be less than $20,000.
Shelter in the storm
According to weather reports, Chatsworth has an 80-percent chance of thunderstorms on Sunday, just one week after the storms that caused damage to more than 100 homes. While early reports do not indicate this front to be severe, Loughridge said Bagley Middle School will be open for shelter.
The school opened post-storm Sunday and had as many as 250 people seeking refuge.
The school currently serves as the drop off point and volunteer registration point.
Loughridge said they are currently talking to local churches about the best way to coordinate relief efforts. Even after clean-up, the needs are huge for families.
On Tuesday, Sparky Roberts, a member of the board, said about 750 people were fed from Bagley Middle School, all with donated food.
“I’m proud to be from Murray County,” Loughridge said.
Bagley Middle School ground zero for recovery efforts
Community April 14, 2020Bagley Middle School became ground zero for rescue efforts after two tornadoes tore through Murray County late Sunday night and will continue to serve in the aftermath of Easter’s deadly storms.
Dewayne Bain, Director of Emergency Management for Murray County.
Dewayne Bain, Director of Emergency Management for Murray County, said at Monday afternoon’s press conference he’s received numerous calls about volunteering to help clean the parts of the county that were damaged.
“Our efforts are switching to recovery and clean-up,” he said, adding that so far, everyone is accounted for as those reported missing have been located. In all, seven people died and 23 were hospitalized as a result of the two tornadoes.
Greg Hogan, Sole Commissioner of Murray County.
Greg Hogan, Sole Commissioner for Murray County, said in a live Facebook post Tuesday that there were still power lines down creating safety hazards.
“If anyone has Bobcats or excavators, go to the homes of some our elderly and help clean up,” he said.
Bain said he and his staff will revisit the damage on Tuesday morning and start a volunteer effort at Bagley Middle School for those wanting to help to sign up.
Volunteers should meet at Bagley Middle School at noon.
The school opened up last night around 10 p.m. after the roof was ripped off the apartment buildings across from the school.
A house on Hwy. 286 had the roof blown house. Relatives said no one was hurt as the family made it to the basement shortly before the tornado came through.
Mike Pritchett said they opened the doors to the middle school after Bain asked if they could.
At the height of the relocation, Pritchett said they had 150-200 people in the school. Bain said about 40 of those were residents of the apartments. The American Red Cross had those displaced by the two tornadoes in hotel rooms by late morning.
“We provided transportation for the last seventeen,” said Pritchett.
The cafeteria at Bagley began getting breakfast and lunches together for emergency crews. Paul’s Drive-thru donated food and as the day went on, donations of water, sodas and food poured in from Lowe’s, Family Dollar, Dollar General and individuals.
But, it’s not just emergency crews, Pritchett said.
Northwest Elementary School suffered extensive damage after a tornado ripped through Murray County Easter Sunday.
“They are preparing bag breakfasts and lunches for students as well,” he said, adding those alone were about 1,800 meals.
Lowes of Dalton donated buckets, gloves, contractor trash bags, and tarps to help with relief efforts.
Governor Brian Kemp flew in to survey damages and speak with local officials about the damage and recovery efforts. He declared another state of emergency for Georgia, the first for the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the nation and the second for the rash of storms that swept through Georgia on Sunday and Monday. He asked if Bagley experienced any damage.
“ Yes,” Steve Loughridge answered. “We have some roof damage.”
Governor Brian Kemp arrived at Bagley Middle School Monday to drive through the devastation caused by two tornadoes Sunday night.
Harder hit was Northwest Elementary School on Hwy. 225.
“About 60-percent of the roof is gone,” said Loughridge.
Loughridge told Kemp he went to Northwest Elementary early this morning to shut off the propane tanks.
“There was a fireman there who asked if I knew how to do it. I did, so he went to join the search and rescue,” Loughridge said.
Lois HIckman has worked at Northeast Elementary School as an assistant PE teacher for 24 years. She said the damage to the school was “eye-opening” but her main concern was for the children impacted by Easter’s tornadoes.
While some have questioned Bain’s decision to not open the school until after the storm passed, he said he there is no way of knowing where the tornadoes will strike and felt people would be safer sheltering in place. While Bagley had some damage, it was minimal, compared to Northwest Elementary, which lost at least 60-percent of it’s roof.
Several faculty and staff were on hand at Northwest, inspecting the damage. Glass littered the parking lot from the large windows and the roof was peeled away, exposing rafters.
“I’ve worked here for 24 years,” said Lois Hickman, who came to see the damaged school. “It can be replaced, but I worry about the students. We’ll have a lot displaced from here.”
One woman worked cleaning up her mother’s trailer. Her mother was one of the injured. “She had surgery this morning,” said the woman, who only wanted to be identified by her first name, Angel. “We can’t even see her because of the restrictions in place.”
Angel said her mother’s injuries, though serious, weren’t life-threatening. “Her Harley is okay and her dogs, but everything else is gone.”
She said the front of the trailer was totally destroyed and the back of it was flipped upside down.
BREAKING: Two tornadoes touch down in Chatsworth
Business, Community April 12, 2020
Two tornadoes touched down around Ga. Highway 225 and Ga. Highway 286 in Chatsworth near Bagley Middle School and North Murray High School around 10:30 p.m. Ga. Highway 225 north of Central is blocked.
Seven people are confirmed dead and 23 injuries.
Gov. Brian Kemp is en route to the area and expected to speak.
Murray County EMA is asking people to stay home and practice social distancing.
We will update as news comes available.