Power Outage Closes Robert Smalls Middle in Beaufort; Students Returning Home

The following information was released this morning from the Beaufort Co. School District:

Robert Smalls Middle School students are returning home this morning because their school still is without electricity after Thursday’s powerful storm.

Buses began picking up the middle school students at 8:15 a.m. and the students – in just their second week of school – will be arriving home between 8:45 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.

District leaders decided to close the school because of safety concerns related to lack of air conditioning and insufficient power to operate the school. Officials with S.C.E.&G. utility in Columbia estimated it would be mid-day before power returned to Robert Smalls Middle because several large trees had toppled onto power lines behind the school, said Phyllis White, chief operational services officer for the school district.

Any child who couldn’t reach a parent or guardian Friday morning, or who didn’t have a key to their home, was taken to Battery Creek High where they will be allowed to continue to try to contact a parent.

While at the high school, the middle schoolers are being supervised by Robert Smalls Middle staff, said Dr. Jacqueline Rosswurm, human resource services officer for the school district. Any Robert Smalls Middle student remaining at Battery Creek at day’s end will be transported home by bus.

 Robert Smalls students who normally take a bus to the Beaufort Boys & Girls Club after school were transported there this morning.

 Four other northern Beaufort County schools lost power Thursday during the storm that produced heavy rain and high winds. An estimated 23,000 customers lost electricity in northern Beaufort County Thursday, though most had seen their power restored by nightfall.

Schools losing power – and in many cases, having their campus littered with tree limbs and downed Spanish Moss – included Beaufort High, Battery Creek High, Mossy Oaks Elementary and Beaufort Middle School. All four had power restored and were operating in normal conditions Friday morning.

It's estimated up to 23,000 lost power. 

MCAS reported winds of up to 69 MPH.  Viewers tell NEWS 3 there are numerous trees and power lines down.

Stay with NEWS 3 and Storm Team 3 for more information as it become available, plus the latest on your Friday forecast coming up tonight on NEWS 3 On Your Side at 6.