By Isabella Rodriguez
Staff Writer
With the Antelope Valley Union High School District canceling school on Monday it has left 33,000 students with an extra day to relax. The unexpected day off comes just a week after the new school year began.
At SOAR, students started both high school and college on Aug 14 so many were just getting started in learning where their classes were, who their teachers are, and what lies ahead in the new semester.
Students like Monica Muniz, described the hurricane as surprising.
“We don’t get a lot of rain in the AV,” she said, adding that she plans on spending the day getting ahead in her classes.
The decision to close all AVUHSD campuses follows the closure of other Antelope Valley school districts like Westside, Lancaster, Palmdale, ILead and several others. The announcement was sent to all families, students, faculty and staff Sunday evening.
“After carefully considering the safety of our staff and your families, we have decided to close all school campuses and cancel all school activities… This decision ensures everyone remains safe and avoids unnecessary travel or exposure to potentially hazardous road conditions,” said Percita Moore, AVUHSD’s Director of Communications.
Shortly after AVUHSD canceled classes, AVC released an announcement notifying students that in-person classes will be canceled but online classes will still be in session unless of a power outage. Students are advised to contact their college professors if they are unable or having difficulty accessing their online class.
Hurricane Hilary began the day being downgraded to a tropical storm but that didn’t mean much for residents who had to contend with flash floods, road closures, and damage to their homes.
A flash flood warning was issued at 10 a.m. Sunday morning and rain continued non-stop throughout the day. By 2:40 p.m., a 5.0 earthquake occurred in Ojai, a coastal town just 85 miles away from Lancaster. Lending itself to a new term, the “hurriquake,” could be felt by Antelope Valley residents.
As for the tropical storm, Hilary is the first to hit Southern California in 84 years and has dropped more than half an average year’s worth of rain in several areas, including more of Los Angeles County.
Palmdale and Lancaster could see more than five inches of rain by the time the storm leaves. There is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms expected for today.
Not only did Hurricane Hilary affect the school districts but it also affected the rest of the Antelope Valley. People are being instructed to avoid certain roads and some are even getting shut down completely. It is recommended that you avoid Avenue K between 60th and 70th Street West since the road is flooded and is beginning to collapse and causing people to get stuck. Avenue N between Sierra Highway and 10th Street W has been closed completely. There was even a mudslide formed on the 14 freeway.
With the rain paving the roads it is making everything slippery causing accidents like on the Sierra Highway where a solo vehicle rollover occurred causing a possible entrapment. With roads being flooded and closed people are instructed to remain at home, causing companies and businesses to close early. Every AVTA bus route had been shut down during the storm. By 8 a.m. Monday, routes were once again open.
Classes are expected to resume on Tuesday. SOAR students could see a change to Friday’s bell schedule to make up for Monday. More information to come.
Stay safe and dry!
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