PLANNING FOR EVACUATIONS
As we head into another rainy season -- and with fire season still ongoing -- the chance for evacuations remains and may be the new normal for the foreseeable future. Sadly, the ongoing fires in our state this week are a reminder that we live in an area where evacuating may mean you only have a few minutes to leave. We encourage all families to have plans in place should they have only a few minutes or 24 hours to evacuate.
We estimate that nearly 20% of our families may live in or near a
debris flow evacuation zone. If you live in a known evacuation zone, we encourage you to make plans now for the possibility of having to leave your home. Should Highway 101 close this season, we understand that your family may have difficulty getting to/from school or from locations to which you may have evacuated. Please plan accordingly with thought given to how you can safely drive to/from the SBMS campus.
We always endeavor to keep our school open in order to bring a sense of normalcy for children who live in an evacuation area while also serving the students and parents who live outside these zones. Should we need to close, we will give as much advance notice as possible.
UPDATED THRESHOLD FOR EVACUATIONS
The National Weather Service has adjusted the threshold for evacuations this year, with 0.8 inches of rain predicted in an hour to trigger an evacuation for areas in the Thomas Fire (see graph below). Preparedness is essential.
