Dear TCS families,
Transylvania County Schools will have Virtual Learning Days on Monday, January 26 and Tuesday January 27 for all students. Students will learn from home both days. This decision was made out of an abundance of caution to ensure the safety of staff, parents and students.
The National Weather Service is now showing the possibility of ice accumulation and power outages starting this weekend across Transylvania County. Our area is under an Ice Storm Warning beginning on Saturday.
We will continue to monitor the forecast throughout the next few days, and will immediately let families know if there are any more changes to school operations. You can also follow our website and social media pages for updates.
Reminder: If students lose power on virtual days, they are given five extra days to complete their assignments once in-person school resumes.
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We want to make sure everyone in our school community is ready. Please take these steps now, if possible:
Prepare your devices – Charge your phones, tablets, laptops, and portable chargers.
Monitor reliable sources – Stay updated through local news, the National Weather Service, and Transylvania County emergency management and county social media pages. We'll share school-related decisions and updates on our website, through our phone alert system and on social media.
Gather emergency supplies – Make sure you have flashlights, batteries, and blankets on hand. Stock up on non-perishable food, water, medications, and pet supplies.
Stay safe – If ice develops, roads can become dangerous quickly. Please stay home and avoid travel if roads are slick.
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Tips from emergency management experts:
Please make sure you have plenty of food, water and supplies ready, including a way to stay warm if there is no electricity. Remember that you cannot use grills or propane heaters indoors because they produce a toxic gas that can be deadly.
It is best to only try to heat one room of the home, according to experts, who recommend putting blankets or towels over the windows to trap the heat inside, and having plenty of blankets or sleeping bags to keep warm.
Water pipes can also freeze and burst in these expected frigid temperatures. Try to maintain indoor heat (above 55°F), let cold water drip from faucets, open cabinet doors for warm air circulation, insulate exposed pipes, and seal air leaks in walls, especially near pipes entering the house. For outdoor pipes, disconnect hoses, shut off water, and cover faucets.
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The Sharing House provided information about the following winter storm resources:
- The City of Brevard, North Carolina released a statement that a warming station at the Brevard Fire Dept will be open to the public from Saturday, 1/24 to Tuesday, 1/26 from 9am to 7pm.
- Cove Shelter provides emergency shelter and supportive services for the unhoused and high risk individuals. They will be open through the storm.
- The Haven of Transylvania County has their shelter prepared and staff will shelter in place through the storm.
"Sharing House is open regular hours today, 1/23 for normal hours: 9-12pm and 1-4pm for all services. Stay safe, be prepared, and utilize our community resources if you need."
Thank you for helping to keep our community safe.
