Today the Elizabethtown Police Department announced East Bladen High School is sending students home due to a suspicious phone call.
The Elizabethtown Fire Department’s Facebook post this morning states, “As many have heard, a suspicious phone call was received earlier this morning at East Bladen High School along with many other High Schools across the state. While no credible threat has been located, the school was evacuated and students are currently being released out of an abundance of caution. The Elizabethtown Fire Department is assisting the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office with sweeping the entire campus and building. Please check back with the sheriff’s office for future updates. Again, all students are safe and are being released at this time….”
Bladen County Schools District Office has not released any information about the early release. No other schools have announced early releases today. BladenOnline has reached out to Bladen County Schools by email. No further information is available at this time. More information will be provided as soon as it is made available.
Update from Bladen County Sheriff’s Office at 11:57 a.m. on Thursday, April, 7, 2022.
Bomb Treat East Bladen High School On April 7, 2022 An individual contacted the Elizabethtown Police Department and the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office regarding a suspicious package at East Bladen High School located at 5600 NC 87 East, Elizabethtown, NC 28337. Bladen County Sheriff’s Office along with the Elizabethtown Fire Department and Emergency Management conducted a search of the school grounds and campus. The Bladen County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation into the individual or individuals that reported the suspicious package.
Update – Press release from Bladen County Schools at 1:47 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, 2022.
Elizabethtown, NC— At approximately 9:15 a.m. Bladen County Schools and local law enforcement were notified of a suspicious package at East Bladen High School. All students and staff were immediately evacuated from the building.
After a thorough sweep of the school’s parking lots and busses, students began being evacuated from campus. Students were dismissed in the same manner they arrived at school. Immediately, students who drove themselves to school and had their keys at the time of evacuation were able to go home. All other students were relocated to the National Guard Armory in Elizabethtown. Parents were routed to the Armory to check out car riders and students who drove themselves to school but didn't have their keys at the time of evacuation. Bus riders went home on their bus.
“The safety of our students is always a top priority. I am grateful for the quick response from our local emergency services personnel who worked with our staff to quickly and safely evacuate the building,” says Dr. Jason Atkinson, Superintendent.
The school and grounds have been cleared by law enforcement. From 2-4 p.m. this afternoon the school will be open for students who would like or need to get any personal belongings from the school. An EBHS staff member will escort students while they are in the building. All after-school activities for today, Thursday, April 7, are canceled and will operate as normal tomorrow, Friday, April 8.
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