HUMBOLDT — Humboldt High School was evacuated for the final three hours of the school day Tuesday after school officials found a written bomb threat.
The threat turned out to be a false alarm. A Kansas Highway Patrol bomb squad based out of Emporia, with bomb-detecting dogs, was brought to the school and found no evidence of bombs or other explosive devices.
The building was reopened to the public at about 4:20 p.m.
A note found in a third-story restroom at about 12:45 p.m. indicated a bomb would explode that afternoon, Humboldt Police Chief Brian Dillow said.
School officials immediately initiated a crisis management plan, which includes bomb threats. Students and staff were evacuated to Humboldt Elementary School for the balance of the day. Other meetings and practices also were canceled.
The Humboldt Police Department, assisted by KHP, the Kansas Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the Humboldt Volunteer Fire Department and other utility agencies such as Westar stood by until the bomb squad arrived at about 3 o’clock.
Dillow said the evacuation and subsequent emergency response went according to plan.
“Everybody worked well together, and we had great cooperation,” Dillow said.
The school was reopened today, and classes resumed their normal schedules, USD 258 Superintendent of Schools K.B. Criss said.
The bomb threat was the second in recent weeks for area schools. A note indicating a bomb would explode at Iola High School in October also was found in a restroom there. In that case, notes were sent out to parents and staff.
Investigations into both bomb threats continue.
Students evacuated after bomb threat found
