LUMBERTON, N.C. (WBTW) – 24,000 Robeson County students in Lumberton head back to school Monday. It’s been about three weeks since Hurricane Matthew and students have not been to school since.
All schools will have a two hour delay. School and transportation officials have been working together to create new bus routes because 81 roads are still damaged or blocked.
West Lumberton Elementary students will attend Lumberton Junior High because the school was flooded during the storm now mold is a concern.
Some families are still living in shelters because their homes were destroyed.
Angela Kallel said the last three weeks have been nothing but normal. Her home was flooded by Hurricane Matthew and she has been living in an American Red Cross shelter with her family ever since Kallel says her kindergartner returning to school is one step toward normalcy.
Angela Kallel, Robeson County resident, “Every day she’s been asking ‘when can I go back to school?’ I’m like as soon as they let us know.”
The Robeson County Fairgrounds is one of the last two shelters open in the county. Red Cross officials say the community has rallied to provide students book bags and supplies.
Tom Aston, Robeson County Fairgrounds shelter manager said, “The community has been very great with their donations and we’re so thankful for those.”
Kallel explained she is grateful for the donations because she did not grab her six years olds book bag while evacuating.
Kallel said, It’s nice of everyone that is helping us out. Every time I see someone that helps me and my family I give them a big hug, say thank you and I appreciate it.”
“Because they didn’t have to do it. But they did,” Kallel adds.
Robeson County schools have scheduled buses to pick up students from the shelters in the morning.
The schools have not released information about make up days. Count on News13 to follow this story and pass along the information as it becomes available.
