I'M GONNA DIE
I got that message about 11:15 this morning from Son18 at school. Being more curious about why he was breaking the rules and using his phone in school than about his melodramatic announcement, I sent a text back asking why he was writing me. He proceeded to text quickly that the school had been threatened and they were in a lock down. Making the assumption that he probably should not be texting from school, I assured him quickly that if he was in lock down, he was safe...so just sit tight.
Moments passed. And then one final text from Son18...
Well if I do die, I luv u
Sure...rip my heart out! Now I had to pay more attention. But before I could, wifey called and wanted to know if I knew anything about what might be going on at the high school. Daughter15 had called wifey to say they were being dismissed early but she had no idea when it might be.
Well, a dozen text messages and quick calls later confirmed that the school was dismissing students - some being evacuated to a nearby elementary school, some put on buses and sent home, and those who could get parents to come get them were being released to parents. And the kids - who had not seen or talked with each other during all the excitement - managed to talk to wifey, get her on the road to pick them up, and coordinate a pickup spot approved by the school during this evacuation.
Ultimately, everyone got home safely. And the news reports that there was a written bomb threat at the high school but all kids were sent home safely, the campus was closed and searched, and no explosive devices were found. So a lot of excitement, a flurry of communication, and all was well.
Tonight, after all that excitement plus the other events of our day, wifey and I decided to go out for dinner. Just as our drinks were served, the fire alarm went off in the restaurant and we had to evacuate. Now we were starting to feel cursed! Two evacuations in one day seemed almost unfair.
We drove to a nearby restaurant, managed to eat without being kicked out in the cold due to bombs, fire, locusts, or any other disaster...and it is now very nice to be sitting at home by the fire.
Tomorrow has got to be calmer, right?
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21 comments:
I should hope so! What more could happen?
My kids' school evacuated last year due to a broken water main. The unfortunate part of this is that I live RIGHT NEXT to the school, so the broken water main also affected my house. Might as well have kept them at the school.
Is it exam week?? Our school district has come to abuse the AlertNow phone system they started using a few years ago. I'm now alerted if a road closes in the district. Hope today is better for the Em family.
I refuse to get cell phones for my boys because they'd text me to death.
BTW My boys both have specific directions in their IEPs for fire drills and evacuations because they get so freaked out. Your son sounds remarkably level-headed overall. Jealous!
Jeez! Sorry about all of that!
I sometimes wonder why bomb threats aren't MORE common in high schools, really. I don't want to give anyone any ideas, certainly, but it seems a pretty effective way of causing a LOT of chaos with just a little effort.
friggin. this crap is nuts.
do we parents now have to know how to talk to our kids about bomb threats now? remember back in the good old days when all you had to do was say "wear a condom and NO heroin!"
Cursed is three evacuations in one day. If that happens, start watching over your shoulder Em.
...and after all that, you went home and lit a fire???
Right!! And I hope that your son didn't truly think he would die.... that would awful. I remember a bomb scare when I was in middle school-- I was thrilled because we got out of classes--I was much too young to think it could lead to anything serious...
I'm glad the school evacutation wasn't somethng awful. Thsi si ne of my nightmares.
My goodness! *phew* on both situations!
That's so unfair. Picking up the kids early is one thing, but getting your drinks interrupted the very same day?? Something is definitely off kilter in the world.
Good grief, what a day! We never had bomb threats in any of my schools while growing up, and I grew up in LA!
My kid just entered Kindergarten. I'm dreading something like that happening in her school. I would have been a nervous wreck b/c that is what I do best and it has always ended up being the right way to act.Really helps to calm the troops
It's like the world is calling "wolf" at you. Thank heavens for that--better than the alternative.
Goodness!!!! I'm sorry to hear that Son18 was so scared during this lockdown. I'm glad all turned out ok. I understand how scary it is to hear that a school's been locked down (or evacuated) and not know what's going on. (Goodness know's we've had some "excitement" of the sort around here in the last couple years.)
As for the second evac. I hope nobody was hurt, and am glad to hear that y'all were finally able to get some food and some peace and quiet. I hope that this is the end of such scares and evacuations for your family.
Good Lord, what an exciting life you lead! I'm glad everyone is okay. Bomb scares are really terrifying.
But at least Son 18 said he loved U.
oh man . . . that is some scary stuff.
Glad everything ended okay.
Wow! What a day! I'm glad everyone was okay (and that you finally got to eat in peace).
They must evac your schools at the drop of a hat.
We would lock down, bring in the dogs, THEN if necessary evac to our alternative site.
Otherwise, we are all going up in a puff of smoke.
Oh yeah, I take phones during these situations. District policy is "off and out of sight" or they get yanked, ESPECIALLY during emergencies.
TV
Oh yeah, quick reponse to Mrs C - Calling in a bomb threat to a school is seriously bad juju. Here in TX it is a felony (probably everywhere) and getting caught is going to land you in hot water.
Making a "terroristic threat" is the charge and it is not a fun one to deal with.
TV
Oh my goodness, I certainly would hope that today is calmer and glad to hear all turned out fine in the end. I think that first text might have panicked me a bit.
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