Schools close early after snow, wind hit

Hours into Tuesday’s snow storm, most schools around Whitman County decided to close to avoid transporting children in increasingly poor road conditions.

“Mostly out in the country is what we are having trouble with blowing and drifting snow,” said Rosalia Business Manager Phyllis Brown.

Citing the fast drifting snow on rural routes, Pullman and Colfax schools closed by 2 p.m. Transportation for the Colfax buses was also hindered when traffic on Main Street was rerouted near the school due to fire crews on station at the Mitz’s Cabinet Shop in the 600 block of N. Main Street.

Garfield and Palouse schools had buses on the road by 1:30 p.m.

Tekoa sent several who lived on rural routes home early, but maintained their regular bus schedule at 3 p.m.

Oakesdale also gave parents on rural routes the option of picking up their children early. Ten parents on rural routes picked up children. The Oakesdale bus system ran at 3 p.m. as usual.

Schools in St. John and Endicott had all busses on the road by 12:30 p.m.

Due to the drifting snow conditions on several of their rural routes, the Rosalia school district had all buses on the road by 12:15 p.m.

County to update FEMA plan

Whitman County’s Department of Emergency Management is seeking a consultant to help update the countywide hazard mitigation plan.

Director Fran Martin said Monday the county needs to update the plan, which inventories potential natural hazards throughout the county, to meet requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.

The current plan, said Martin, lists potential hazards in the county, as well as in 29 other entities such as towns, schools, hospitals and fire districts.

Martin said having hazards listed in the plan reduces the insurance rates of landowners and clears hurdles for FEMA funding.