School district closures in Madera County due to weather conditions
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Some school districts are closed in Madera County on Thursday as storms move in.
The snowy conditions canceled classes for the Yosemite Unified and Bass Lake school districts.
"To monitor the roads, we have staff go out at 4:30 in the morning and just look at the road conditions," explained Michelle Townsend, superintendent of the Bass Lake School District.
"We coordinate with our fellow neighbors here in the Bass Lake School District who's your families to know the road conditions before we send our buses out."
The district accounts for snow days in advance, ensuring minimal time is lost in the classroom.
The storm created dangerous roadways heading up to the mountains and into the city.
The rain has caused flooding on the Valley floor.
Sunset Avenue in Madera was blocked off on both sides because the water had gone up so high making it hazardous for drivers to go through.
County crews used pumps to clear the way.
The county's public works department says it's all hands on deck.
"Fully staffed 24 hours around the clock, 12-hour shifts," said Madera County Public Works Director Dominic Tybursk.
"Here at the county we like to be a little more aggressive once we start seeing snow on the ground we get up there and start mobilizing cruise to remove that snow."
The Madera County Office of Emergency Services has activated a level three alongside the sheriff's office through Tuesday to continue to monitor changing conditions in vulnerable areas like burn scars.
"The snow actually helped us out in those areas, 'cause we're not getting that saturated rain. We're actually getting the snowfall," said Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue.
"But if temperatures rise and the snowfall melts rapidly, then there could potentially be an issue."
Both Yosemite Unified and Bass Lake school districts have announced a two-hour delay for school start times on Friday.
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