NORTH AUGUSTA, SC (WRDW/WAGT) – Low power lines, fallen trees and debris have raised significant safety concerns for students in the Hammond Hills neighborhood – crews assessed the damage in preparation for school Monday, the district announced.

The Aiken County Public School District said Sunday evening, Oct. 13, that it is actively evaluating conditions in the neighborhood following concerns about students walking to school and bus stops, as well as school buses traveling due to low power lines and fallen trees. and debris.

Last week, the district announced that all schools would be delayed two hours Monday and Tuesday to collect debris from the hurricane.

The district says no streets are impassable for school buses serving students at Hammond Hill Elementary School. All regularly scheduled stops will be made as scheduled for Hammond Hill Elementary School students.

There are, however, several streets serving Paul Knox Middle School and North Augusta High School students who live in the Hammond Hills neighborhood that are not safely accessible by school buses at this time. In the meantime, these stops are combined with the nearest accessible stop.

• Previous stops at Stanton Drive and Brooks Drive as well as Stanton Drive and Hastings Place will be consolidated into one stop at Hammond Drive at Stanton Drive.

• The previous stop at Medie Avenue and Indian Mound Drive will now be combined with the stop at Riverview Drive and Medie Avenue.

• And previous stops at West Woodlawn Avenue and Dunbarton Drive, 986 Campbellton Drive and 971 Campbellton Drive will be combined with the Amherst Drive stop at West Woodlawn Avenue.

Families living in the Hammond Hills neighborhood are strongly encouraged to walk their child to school or bus stop, or arrange alternative transportation for them until the situation resolves. is improving. Our top priority is the well-being of all students and we believe this precaution is necessary at this time.

Please remember that sidewalks may be blocked in some areas, visibility may be limited due to debris, and some power lines are still suspended at low altitude. Please expect additional law enforcement presence along these routes over the coming days as they work with us to keep students and families safe.

We hope that all students arrive safely at school and return home safely, and we thank you for your attention and cooperation as we recover from Hurricane Helene.

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