Latest Weather Blog
Fifteen Livingston Parish schools damaged by water; Some up to 8 feet
DENHAM SPRINGS - Livingston Parish Schools sustained catastrophic damage and there is no immediate plans to open schools, the superintendent said in a live TV interview during extended coverage of the recent flooding in the region.
"We went through a fight, but we are still Livingston Parish proud," an emotional Rick Wentzel said discussing the situation in the parish.
Fifteen schools were impacted by water, eight were damaged "pretty bad," Wentzel said. The most severely damaged schools were flooded with either four to eight feet of water and schools in the Denham Springs district were damaged the most.
"[Schools in Denham Springs] took the biggest hit," Wentzel said. Though, Springfield High School near the Tangipahoa-Livingston Parish line was flooded with "a lot of water."
Wentzel said there is no time set on when schools will open.
"Until we get a better reflective on the damage, we can't make [school re-opening] decisions. Right now, we just got to see."
School officials will meet with officials in St. Tammany Parish Thursday to discuss how the North Shore school district got back to class after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Wentzel, who broke down on the phone during the interview, said he has been overcome by emotion with the support from those in Livingston Parish and neighboring parishes, too.
Happily, he said: "People in this parish rock!"
Wentzel asked parents to monitor the Livingston Schools Facebook, Twitter and website. Click HERE for the website. He said more information will be released in the next couple of days.
For other school closures, click HERE.
*********************
Follow the publisher of this Post on Twitter: @treyschmaltz
More News
