All Clear After Bomb Threat Prompts Evacuation Of 3 Schools
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LAUDERDALE LAKES (CBSMiami) -- Lots of students were evacuated from several schools in Northwest Broward County Thursday morning after a so-called tipster called Crime Stoppers saying there were bombs in Boyd Anderson High school and nearby Lauderdale Lakes middle school.
Because it was so close, Oriole elementary was also emptied.
Sirens and police lights surrounded the schools as bomb squads swept them. The school system sent out blast robo calls and texts telling parents not to come get their children, they were safe, but they still limed up at evacuation sites to pick up their kids.
"It's crazy. I used to go to Lauderdale Lakes, and the same thing happened when I was a student at Lauderdale Lakes," said parent Jessica McLeod.
But that was long ago. Now, an anonymous call can clear three schools of nearly 3,500 students.
"I think it is really inconsiderate of someone to threaten schools. It's the scariest thing ever," said parent Gabriel Nava. It was a scary thing in scary times that make better safe than sorry a sad reality.
"For the safety of the kids, steps should be taken to secure their lives," said another parent.
"It's an uncomfortable feeling for me when I get a phone call saying there's been a bomb threat at my daughter's school," said parent Pete Douglas. "I know some people say, oh, it's not serious. But me, I take everything serious."
The all clear was sounded about 3 1/2 hours after the schools were evacuated, students returning to class.
"We were scared, we were. But like everything remained calm," said Anderson high student Shaheim Jean Philippe.
If students remained calm, some were also angry.
"For me to have to step out of class and take time out and to do this all day, it really did affect me, because I want to get my grades right," said Anderson high student Eddie Thomas.
On Thursday, however, grades had to wait on someone who, for who knows what reason, made a threatening call.
A Broward school district spokesperson said a school somewhere in the county receives a bomb threat on average once a week.
Today's stood out, sending thousands of students into the streets and walking to evacuation sites, some as far as 16 blocks away.