Two Hoke County schools evacuated after bomb threat
HOKE COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- Hoke County High School and Turlington Alternative School were evacuated as a precaution Tuesday morning after a bomb threat was called into the county's 911 system, according to officials.
Hoke County school officials told ABC11 that over 2,200 students, teachers, staff at the Raeford schools were taken to two middle schools just after 9 a.m., while the buildings were inspected.
"We bused half of the students over to West Hoke Middle School [to] the gymnasium over there, and the other half to East Hoke Middle School [to] the gymnasium over there," Hoke High Principal Roger Edwards said.
The notification of the threat prompted the school system to issue the evacuation immediately.
"Usually ... it comes to the [school's] front desk if we have something of that nature. So I would say yes, it is unusual for it to go straight to the sheriff's department," Edwards said.
Officials gave the all clear around 10:45 a.m. and students were allowed back to their assigned schools.
Parents were urged not to come and pick up their children. However, some said their kids were too shaken up to stay in school for the day.
"Fortunately they're okay, but we thought it best to come get them, to have them go home, relax and hopefully be prepared for school tomorrow," grandparent Willie Ray said.
