Primary schools, middle schools, high schools… all classes suspend classes from 12 p.m. The Prefect of Puy-de-Dôme has just taken this measure due to the orange alert for violent winds announced by Météo France. Schools close from 3 p.m.
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This Thursday, November 21, due to the orange vigilance for violent winds, the Prefect of Puy-de-Dôme took the decision to suspend classes in all schools in the department from 12 p.m., until the official closing schools, scheduled for 3 p.m. This measure concerns nursery and primary schools, as well as middle schools, high schools and first and second level BTS for the moment.
The prefecture asks parents of students to come and pick up their children between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. For those who cannot do so, a childcare system has been put in place, and the children will be taken care of and sheltered until they recover, assured the Prefect during a press briefing. He also asked public and private employers to facilitate the care of children by parents to allow them to recover quickly.
The prefect indicates in a press release that he took this decision in consultation with the competent services and network managers to “guarantee the safety of students” in the face of intensifying winds. According to forecasts, the peak of the weather event is expected in the middle of the day, coinciding with school let out. For this reason, it was decided to reduce travel and traffic flows by suspending lessons from 12 p.m.
The information was communicated to parents of students through school principals, indicates the Rectorate of Puy-de-Dôme.
For Clermont Auvergne Métropole, due to particularly unfavorable weather conditions (wind up to 120 km/h in gusts), all facilities open to the public will be closed this afternoon, in particular media libraries, museums, conservatories, swimming pools, ice rink, stadiums and recycling centers. “Be vigilant and limit your travel,” recommends the metropolis.
For the City of Clermont-Ferrand, schools and nurseries will also be closed. Parents are invited to pick up their children as soon as possible. Exceptionally, an on-call system is put in place until 6 p.m. for families without a solution. In addition, sports facilities, cemeteries, as well as city parks and gardens will be closed.
Clermont Auvergne University also announces the suspension of classes from now on, this Thursday, November 21 until the next day, November 22. This concerns the four departments of Auvergne: Puy-de-Dôme, Allier, Cantal and Haute-Loire.
In addition to the closure of schools, the prefect calls for extreme caution on the roads. Recommendations were made to limit travel, particularly due to the risks associated with strong winds. “Users must adapt their driving and avoid sensitive areas”he clarified.
The prefect also asked the mayors of the department to take similar measures for outdoor and sporting events, in order to guarantee the safety of participants and spectators.
The authorities remain particularly vigilant regarding the evolution of weather conditions and recommend that everyone be very careful. “This episode of violent winds presents a risk for the safety of people, particularly on the road. Users must limit their movements and adapt their driving”indicates the prefect. It also recalls some essential instructions for dealing with this type of climatic conditions:
- Limit travel and adapt your speed, particularly for vehicles sensitive to the effects of wind.
- Avoid walks in the forest and be particularly vigilant in town regarding the risk of falling objects.
- Do not work on roofs and never touch electrical wires that have fallen to the ground.
- Secure or store sensitive objects to the wind, such as garden furniture and tarpaulins, and install generators outside buildings.
The prefecture also indicates that the departmental operational center was activated at 10 a.m. this morning, with all operational services and network managers on alert. A crisis unit has been activated, bringing together state services, the Regional Health Agency (ARS) and local authorities to monitor developments in the situation.
