Latest news with #DothanPreparatoryAcademy
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Dothan students return to classroom after EF-1 tornado hits school
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) — Dothan Preparatory Academy students are back in the classroom after an EF-1 tornado damaged their school last week. School staff have been working over the last week to make the building safe for students and staff, like boarding up windows that were cracked and shattered by the tornado. Five students were injured when the tornado hit the school at the end of March. The school suffered damage to the AC units and media center, damaging technology and books in reserve and some substantial roof damage to the gym, which will be off limits for a while. Dothan students injured after suspected tornado hits school 'Kids came in smiling, excited, ready to see their friends hugging their teachers everybody had breakfast in the cafeteria it was really good to have them back and we had no issues,' said DPA Principal James Williams. The school staff had Spectracare on site today to help students with their mental health. 'Just a social and emotional part to address for our students and staff. anybody who goes through an event like that its traumatic for them because everybody takes it differently some may not have been impacted and some did so we need to be able to provide that service,' said Dothan City Schools Assistant Superintendent Lee Jacobs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
2 Students Hospitalized After Suspected Tornado Rips Roof Off Alabama School
Two students have been transported to the hospital after a suspected tornado ripped the roof off a school in Alabama. The Dothan Fire Department confirmed in a press release that 'a severe weather event' impacted the area surrounding Dothan Preparatory Academy in Dothan at around 12:30 p.m. local time on Monday, March 31, causing damage to the property. 'There have been five reported minor injuries among DPA students. Two of these students have been transported to a local hospital for further evaluation,' the fire department continued in their release. Emergency response teams and the Dothan Police Department 'are actively assessing damage and ensuring the safety of residents,' according to the release. Parademics arrived on the scene after receiving a call about a roof that fell on five students during the storm, CBS affiliate WTVY reported. The students received minor injuries, the outlet stated. Related: Violent Tornado Sends School Bus into Roof of Alabama High School, 'Totally' Destroying Gym The Dothan Police Department confirmed in an update on Facebook that all of the students at the school are 'safe' and that their 'injuries are being addressed by Dothan Fire [Department].' The police shared in a later post that the parents of the students should meet each other at the reunification point at Doug Tew Recreation Center on Garland Road. 'Please be patient as this will be a deliberate process,' the department wrote. The fire department also reported structural damage across the area affected by the storm and that approximately 3,000 Dothan Utilities customers were left without power. 'Utility crews are working diligently to restore service as quickly and safely as possible. Residents are urged to stay away from the affected area, as multiple roads are closed and downed power lines pose significant hazards,' per the fire department's release. No additional injuries in the impacted area have been reported. Related: Dramatic Video Captures Roof of Florida's Tropicana Field Being Shredded to Pieces by Hurricane Milton Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba clarified in a video posted by the fire department on Facebook that the storm caused 'significant damage to the school' and areas leading up to Cottonwood Road and Southside Baptist. 'I want to say how blessed we are that it wasn't a lot worse than what it could have been had we taken a direct hit to the school,' Saliba said. 'I want to commend all of our departments [including] Dothan Utilities Street Divisions. Everybody as usual has come together to work towards making sure everyone was safe.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. PEOPLE reached out to the Dothan Fire Department for additional comments, but they did not immediately respond. Read the original article on People
USA Today
31-03-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
2 students hospitalized after apparent tornado strikes Dothan, Alabama school
2 students hospitalized after apparent tornado strikes Dothan, Alabama school Two students in Dothan, Alabama were hospitalized Monday when an apparent tornado struck Dothan Preparatory Academy, causing significant damage to the roof of the school's gymnasium. Five students were injured when the storm struck just before 12:45 p.m. local time, Dothan fire officials confirmed to USA TODAY. The Montgomery Advisor − a part of the USA TODAY Network − reported that the damage occurred around 1 p.m. local time. Dothan Fire Department Deputy Chief Chris Etheredge said that the rest of the school, which serves seventh and eighth graders, suffered minor damage. Dothan City Schools Superintendent Dennis Coe said in a statement that the storm also caused damage to PASS Academy and Dothan City Virtual School. The district, located about 105 miles southeast of Montgomery, confirmed that all students and staff had been accounted for. Crews are surveying the area east of the school for damage and power is being restored to the area, Etheridge told USA TODAY. The USA TODAY Power Outage Tracker shows that as of 3:30 local time, over 3,100 people in Houston County, where Dothan is located, are without power. "No doubt: the quick actions taken by staff and students saved lives today and caused few injuries at DPA and the adjacent schools," Coe said in the statement. The Dothan Police Department posted on Facebook that the reunification point for parents to pick up their children is Doug Tew Recreation Center. This is a developing story.
