On September 22, 2026, a 6‑inch water main ruptured near a DeKalb County elementary school, shutting off the building’s water supply and prompting the immediate relocation of students from their classrooms.
The DeKalb County School District activated its emergency evacuation protocol, moving children to a pre‑designated safe area while school staff supervised the process. County water crews arrived on scene within minutes to assess the break and begin repairs.
Repair teams identified the damaged section of the main and started the work required to seal and replace the pipe. Their efforts were focused on restoring service as quickly as possible while ensuring the safety of students and staff.
During the outage, the district arranged for students to be transported to a nearby school facility where instructional time continued. No injuries were reported, and the evacuation was carried out as a precautionary measure to protect the children.
The water main failure impacted only the elementary school building; surrounding residential areas continued to receive water without interruption. Officials estimated that the repair would take several hours before normal water service could be reestablished and regular school activities could resume.
District representatives expressed appreciation for the rapid response of the repair crews and indicated that families would receive updates as the situation progressed.