Submitted by the Lafayette Parish School System
LAFAYETTE, LA (November 13, 2024) – Due to significant flooding on several campuses and in surrounding areas across Lafayette Parish, Superintendent Francis Touchet, Jr., made the decision to close all schools on Wednesday morning at approximately 7:30 a.m.
The following is a timeline of key events to provide clarity on how the decision unfolded:
- 5:00 a.m.: Trace amounts of rain are reported.
- 6:00 a.m.: Rain accumulates to roughly 1.5 inches.
- 6:41 a.m.: The National Weather Service issues a Flash Flood Warning for our area.
- 6:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.: Heavy rainfall of 2-3 inches per hour occurs. In three hours, parts of Lafayette Parish received 4”-7” of rainfall, equivalent to a 20-25 year Flash Flood Event according to the National Weather Service.
- By 7:00 a.m., water began accumulating on roadways and at some LPSS campuses.
- 7:12 a.m.: LPSS issues a message via the J-Campus system, alerting parents and staff to
- transportation issues and encouraging safety. District leaders convene to assess next steps.
- 7:36 a.m.: Superintendent Touchet makes the decision to close all schools for the day, with a
- message sent promptly to parents, staff, and media. Middle school buses are rerouted, and
- parents are asked to pick up students from elementary and high schools. Staff members remain
- on-site to ensure safe student pick-up.
- 7:54 a.m.: A follow-up message is sent to high school students who drove to campus, advising
- them to stay until conditions improve. Faculty and staff are instructed to stay with students until
- campuses are clear and safe.
Superintendent Touchet shared this statement:
“The safety of our students and staff is, and will always be, my top priority. The severity of this morning’s weather event caught us all by surprise. We anticipated rain, but not the volume and intensity in which it fell within such a short timeframe. Please be assured that our leadership team acted swiftly to assess the situation and prioritize student safety. Each crisis presents an opportunity for learning, and we will implement these lessons to strengthen future responses.”
Submitted by the Lafayette Parish School System
As of 11:00 a.m., at least nine schools have reported water intrusion, though no severe damage has been identified. Our construction and maintenance teams are currently working on mitigation efforts.
