Julington

From the St. Johns River Water Management District

PALATKA, Fla., April 25, 2008 ¾ A prescribed fire on approximately 90 acres of the Julington-Durbin Preserve is scheduled for today beginning at 9:30 a.m.

The burn is part of ongoing restoration and maintenance of St. Johns River Water Management District-owned land. District land managers strive to restore and preserve ecosystems and habitats on land acquired by the District and to provide public recreational opportunities that are compatible with District goals.

Prescribed fire — carefully planned fires purposefully set under stringent conditions to control its effects — is used to reduce the possibility of destructive wildfires, while enhancing land’s biological values and perpetuating fire-adapted plants and animals. Prescribed fire helps prevent wildfires by burning off fuels that naturally build up over time, while also helping to control the growth of woody shrubs. It also helps control tree diseases and opens scenic vistas.

According to St. Johns County School Board Chairman Beverly Slough, Julington Creek Elementary is closed today due to flooding from the construction area next to the school. Water from that site has collected on Race Track Road and has made the east-bound lanes of Race Track impassable.

Here's an e-mail statement sent this morning from Bev Slough, School Board chairman:

It has been a very challenging morning.  I appreciate all the communication from parents, letting me know about area flooding.  I called Dr. Joyner at 5:30 this morning to alert him to the poor weather conditions here in the NW.  There is NO flooding or excessive rain in St. Augustine, so he was unaware at that point that we were experiencing torrential rain, resulting in flooding.

He immediately contacted the Facilities Dept. to send people to assess our schools.  With the exception of Julington Creek Elementary, all schools were accessible and able to open.  The district's personnel did not and were not able to assess all neighborhoods for flooding.

A sign on Race Track Road Wednesday afternoon says it all. A section of the east-bound lanes by Julington Creek Elementary was closed most of the day until county crews used mechanical pumps to remove the water. The road reopened at about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday. MARK PETTUS/My St. Johns Sun

Dr. Joyner also contacted the Transportation Dept. and learned that buses were able to run in all areas and safely transport children.

Subsequently, we learned that several neighborhoods are so flooded that residents are unable to get out to take their children to school.  Please know that we fully support the decision of parents to keep their children home if they feel that it is unsafe to send them to school.  All weather-related absences will be excused, and teachers will be instructed to work with students to recoup any learning that was lost today.

I realize that our experience today has been frustrating for parents.  I am sorry that we were not able to assess the situation earlier, but the unpredicted heavy rains (the news at 11 PM said the worst of the rain was over) throughout the night were a surprise to everyone.  Please know that the safety of our children is our first priority.  We continue to monitor the situation carefully.