Closings.

Board of County Commissioners 200 East 4th Street / P.O. Box 99 • Woodbine, GA 31569 Phone: (912) 576.6682 • Fax: (912) 576.5647 • www.co.camden.ga.us Office of the County Administrator “Leadership that Listens” STEVE L. HOWARD O. BRENT GREEN County Administrator County Attorney PRESTON RHODES – Chair KATHERINE NISI ZELL – Vice Chair STEPHEN L. BERRY Commissioner, District 1 Commissioner, District 2 Commissioner, District 3 CHARLENE SEARS DAVID L. RAINER Commissioner, District 4 Commissioner, District 5 Press Release Contact: Steve Howard Phone: 912-510-0464 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3 p.m. EDT, August 20, 2008 Camden County Office Closure Woodbine, GA – August 20, 2008: The Camden County Board of County Commissioners has directed all County offices be closed on Thursday, August 21, 2008 due to the forecast of Tropical Storm Fay impacting our area. Camden County will continue staffing on an essential personnel basis only until deemed safe for all personnel to return to resume regular work schedules. We encourage all citizens to stay updated via the local media outlets. To receive emails on local weather alerts, citizens may visit Camden County’s website at www.co.camden.ga.us, click on Notify Me, and register for the Hazardous Weather Notifications. -End Schools closed tomorrow. Media Release Re: Tropical Storm Fay Date: August 20, 2008 - 1:30 pm Tropical Storm Fay, has diminished in intensity but continues to be a concern due to the possibility ofstrong winds and significant rainfall. The National Weather Service has provided information regarding the intensity of winds that will affect our area during the day on Thursday that presents a cause for concern. Although the storm has been significantly downgraded, its swath extends out about 115 miles and even with a very southern track, could affect Camden County. Information provided by the National Weather Service suggests we will experience sustained winds of up to 40 mph in the inland portions of our county and as high as 50 mph near the coast. These predictions, as well as the expectations of even stronger wind gusts, are a significant threat to school buses on open highways and especially on bridges. While we anticipate the morning and most of the school day will be less severe, transporting students home after school on Thursday may present a real danger. In addition to our concerns with high winds, there is also a higher than normal chance for isolated tornadoes in the area. Therefore, forecasts suggesting threatening winds and the potential for isolated tornadoes indicate the safest course of action is to close schools on Thursday August, 21st. Camden County Schools and all associated activities will be cancelled on Thursday, August 21st, 2008. School Officials will remain in regular contact with the National Weather Service and local public safety agencies during the next 24 hours to guide decisions about the storm’s influence on our school system and our ability to re-open on Friday. However, our fear is that the amount of rain predicted for our county in a relatively short period of time will make travel difficult for pupil transportation and families. Rainfall is expected to increase throughout the day tomorrow and may require the cancellation ofschool on Friday but that is not yet decided. Information will be provided through local media outlets regarding any further cancellations. Interested parties should monitor WKBX (KBay) radio station 106.3 for the most up to date information released by the school system or by visiting the school system’s internet website at www.camden.k12.ga.us. A determination about our ability to safely operate schools and pupil transportation on Friday, August 22nd, 2008, will be made during the day on August 21st, 2008. It’s important to remember that many rural areas in Camden County and neighborhoods within each city where school buses travel may become flooded and unsafe. Rather than endanger students who ride those buses, it may become necessary to suspend transportation temporarily. In the event pupil transportation must be suspended in some areas and families are unable to transport children to schools because they cannot leave their homes, excused absences will be granted.