[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish schools will remain closed Thursday, all bridges now open

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish schools will remain closed Thursday, all bridges now open

Print Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune By Benjamin
Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune 
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on January 29, 2014 at 4:59 PM, updated January 29, 2014 at 5:50 PM

St. Bernard Parish Public Schools will remain closed on Thursday and will
reopen Friday, according to Beverly Lawrason, the assistant superintendent
of the school system. Previously, school officials had announced planns to
reopen Thursday, but Lawrason said school officials determined the new plan
after discussions on Wednesday afternoon.

Also Sheriff Jimmy Pohlmann announced that all bridges in and leading to St.
Bernard had been open by late Wednesday afternoon.

Pohlmann also said on Wednesday that there had been no injuries or damages
reported because of the weather.

"St. Bernard residents responded well to recommendations that they stay off
roadways unless absolutely necessary,'' Pohlmann said on Wednesday.

Administrative offices of the Sheriff's Office will reopen on Thursday after
having been closed Tuesday and Wednesday, the sheriff said.

The St. Bernard Parish government also is scheduled to return to normal
operations on Thursday, after remaining closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

"All parish employees are expected to return to work at their normal time,"
according to a parish government announcement on Wednesday.

St. Bernard Parish President Dave Peralta declared a state of emergency for
all of the parish at 2:25 p.m. Monday. While government offices remain
closed, essential personnel have been on duty and its Office of Emergency
Preparedness is operating, according to the parish government.

The ferry service at Algiers and Chalmette remains suspended, the state
Department of Transportation and Development said Wednesday. DOTD continues
to stress that motorists should stay off the roads whenever possible.

"Interstates, highways and even surface streets continue have ice, and
roadway challenges are expected to continue with temperatures forecasted to
hover around freezing in many places," according to the DOTD announcement on
Wednesday. "Motorists should limit any activity to emergency travel only and
use extra caution when driving during these hazardous weather conditions."

NOLA.com is maintaining an updated list of all road closures and
re-openings. 

Motorists can access the latest updates on real-time traffic and road
conditions by dialing 511 and saying the route or region about which they
are seeking information, according to DOTD. Out-of-state travelers can call
1.888.762.3511.

People can also visit www.511la.org for more information on Louisiana
roadways, or they can download the smartphone application "Way to Geaux."

St. Bernard Parish government encourages residents to stay tuned to the
parish's website at www.sbpg.net or its Facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/StBGov for future updates.