With heavy rains and wind gusts reaching 62 mph, two large pieces of the high school roof blew off around noon Wednesday, just before power went out in Oak Harbor.

An approximate 50-by-50-foot chunk of roof sailed off the roof located above the school’s band room while another, smaller piece blew off the roof located above one of the locker bays.

“It rolled up like a carpet,” said Joe Hunt, communications director for the Oak Harbor School District.

Band teacher Bruce Lantz was working in the band room when the roof blew away.

“I thought a large tree had fallen down,” Lantz said, adding he was working alone in the class room during his prep period. When he went outside to examine the damage he noticed pieces of tar paper, yellow insulation and wood scattered around the grounds.

Hunt said the building roof is comprised of three layers and the building interior escaped damage. Maintenance workers placed a tarp on the damaged roof Thursday until a roofer could come in and make a longer-term repair. He said he didn’t know yet how much the repair work would cost.

Employees cordoned off the area and students weren’t allowed to go outside because of the wind gusts.

Students in Oak Harbor schools remained in session despite losing power.

Hunt said it was best to keep the students in school because it would have been difficult to get the message out to parents and it ensured students remained in a safe place.

“The safest thing is to leave the kids in school and make it as normal as possible,” Hunt said.

At Oak Harbor Elementary School, students had the benefit of windows stretching the length of the classrooms, which allowed teachers to continue with lesson plans despite the lack of electricity. Students took flashlights with them when they had to use the bathroom.

Hunt said the bus drivers transported students to their homes. If drivers couldn’t reach students’ homes then students were taken back to school and other arrangements were made, such as using a smaller bus to transport them. There were only two incidents where students had to return to school.

While students in Oak Harbor attended a full day of classes, students in Coupeville had the day off. The storm knocked out power in the historic town early Wednesday morning. Officials originally tried to open school two hours late. However, they decided to cancel classes because power wasn’t restored. Eventually students will have to make up the lost day. That will take place March 16.

Students attending Skagit Valley College were also affected by the storm. Officials canceled day and evening classes Wednesday.