Teachers prepare as students return to school following Matthew
WAS SLOWLY DRAINED TO RELIEVE
STRESS ON THE DAM.
>>> THE DAMAGE IN CUMBERLAND
COUNTY FORCED THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT TO SHUT DOWN FOR THE
ENTIRE WEEK BUT THEY ARE READY
TO REOPEN MONDAY.
GILBERT BAEZ JOINS US LIVE FROM
FAYETTEVILLE WHERE TEACHERS ARE
PREPARING FOR WHAT COULD BE AN
EMOTIONAL DAY AT SCHOOL.
GILBERT?
>> Reporter: THAT IS EXACTLY
RIGHT.
THIS IS WHY.
BECAUSE OF DAMAGE LIKE THIS.
ALL THIS STUFF WAS INSIDE THAT
HOUSE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THIS IS
OUT HERE NOW.
THAT HOUSE WAS FLOODED TWICE.
WE WERE HERE WHEN THE FAMILY
WAS PULLED OUT BY BOAT TO SAVE
THEIR LIVES.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, SCHOOL WILL
BE OPENING MONDAY.
TEACHS ARE AND ADMINISTRATORS
SAY THEY WELCOMING THE STUDENTS
WITH EMOTIONALLY OPEN ARMS.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A WEEK,
TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS
WERE BACK TOGETHER IN SCHOOLS
ACROSS CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
AT READ ROSS CLASSICAL SCHOOL,
THEY SOCIALIZED OVER DOUGHNUTS
AN EXCHANGED STORM STORIES.
>> WE LOST ELECTRICITY SATURDAY
AROUND 11:00.
>> Reporter: ELIZABETH LINVILLE
IS THE SCHOOL'S COUNSELOR.
SHE SAYS THE BEST WAYS TO HELP
STUDENTS DEAL WITH THE
TRAUMATIC AFTERMATH OF THE
STORM IS TO LET THEM TALK ABOUT
IT.
>> THEY NEED TO EXPRESS IT
ESPECIALLY IF THEIR HOME IS
STILL UNDER WATER OR IF THEY
HAVE FAMILY THAT IS STILL
SUFFERING.
WE NEED TO BE HERE.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO LISTEN
TO THEM AND NOT JUST BRUSH IT
OFF.
>> WE DON'T WANT OUR TEACHERS
JUMPING RIGHT BACK INTO READING
AN WRITING AND MATH AND SORNL
STUDIES.
IT WILL BE WHAT DID YOU
EXPERIENCE IN WHAT WAS IT LIKE
FOR YOU.
>> Reporter: THE VENT SAYS FOR
THE MOST PART, THE SCHOOL
BUILDING SURVIVED THE STORM.
THERE WAS SOME STANDING WATER
OUTSIDE.
A FEW LEAKY ROOFS AND MANY LOST
POWER.
>> THE POWER IS BACK ON.
WE HAD WATER.
YESTERDAY, WE LOST WATTER IN
ONE SCHOOL BUT WE'LL DEAL WITH
THAT FOR MONDAY.
SO PHYSICALLY, WE ARE NOT
PRETTY BUT WE'RE GOOD ENOUGH TO
GO.
>> Reporter: HE SAYS THEY CAN'T
WAIT FOR EVERY ROAD TO BE FIXED
AND ALL FLOOD WATER TO RECEDE.
HE SAYS GETTING KIDS BACK IN
SCHOOL WILL HELP THIS COMMUNITY
GET BACK TO NORMAL.
>> AS LONG AS KIDS ARE NOT IN
SCHOOL, THERE IS NO NORMALCY,
WHATEVER THAT NORMAL IS.
>> Reporter: THAT IS EXACTLY
RIGHT.
THERE IS A NEW NORMAL IN THIS
AREA AND IN THE STATE.
THAT CAR WAS SUBMERGED TWICE.
DON'T FORGET, SCHOOL WILL START
ON A TWO-HOUR DELAY ON MONDAY.
THE SUPERINTENDENT WANTS TO
MAKE SURE THE SUN IS UP WHEN
OUR STUDENTS AND SCHOOL BUSES
HIT THE ROAD.
>> A TOUGH DAY FOR ALL OF THEM.
THANK YOU, GILBERT.