UPDATE: Some schools remain closed Friday, new school closure

UPDATE 12/11/14 8:02p.m.: Bonny Doon Elementary school will be closed again Friday, Pajaro Valley Unified School District schools will all be open Friday but they will be working early in the morning to fix some minor damage. No word yet on San Lorenzo Valley schools.

Southside School in Hollister will be closed Friday due to safety concerns with rising water on Southside Road.

Gateway Middle School is also closed after the tree fell on the playground.

Stevenson School in Pebble Beach is also closed Friday because of power outages.

12/10/14: Communities across the Central Coast are bracing for what could be the biggest storm we’ve seen in a few years. Some schools will be closed on Thursday including Ben Lomond Elementary, Bonny Doon Elementary and all schools in the San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District will be closed.

So far all other schools in the Santa Cruz City School District, Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, all Salinas and Hollister school districts, are staying open. They’re all monitoring the storm closely and will refer to safety plans if need be.

“So we’ll have crews and people’s manning the conditions, watching websites and such through the night and then showing up to their worksites early in the morning,” said Pajaro Valley Unified School District chief business officer Brett McFadden.

PVUSD said for now, all schools will be open on Thursday, but things can change quickly.

“So we’ve seen power outages, we’ve seen minor flooding on site, sometimes major flooding on site that’s taken place, trees falling,” McFadden said.

With high wind, flash flood and high surf advisories, the district said it won’t take any chances. Each school has a safety plan, but four schools historically face the largest risk of weather-related damage.

“Rio Del Mar in Aptos, Bradley Elementary in Corralitos, Alianza in the north Watsonville area and Hall School down south,” McFadden said.

Clean up crews said parents also need to be prepared at home.

“You know children, a lot of the time at night you know they have their night lights on, you’re gonna be using probably candles tomorrow. Invest in some flame less candles, don’t have a secondary damage like a fire which is something we get called out to all the time,” said Nicole Petitt with Property Restoration Services.

Restoration companies recommend homeowners bring in patio furniture, take down any loose Christmas decorations and clear out rain gutters before it’s too late.

“Do you have a sump pump, if you do is your generator working properly. You know you should check it. Don’t assume anything,” Petitt said.

Pacific Gas and Electric said it’s gearing up for extra calls over the next couple of days. A base camp is being set up overnight at Scotts Valley Airport where crews and a mobile command center will remain on stand-by.

The Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District (MPRPD) will close Garland Ranch, Palo corona and Mill Creek Regional Parks Thursday and Friday.

MPRPD staff will undertake an assessment and perform initial clean-up of the parks on Friday. The parks will re-open to the public on Saturday, Dec. 13.