Update: Bitcoin email bomb threat reported at Intermediate Unit 13 building in Lebanon
Merriell Moyer
A bomb threat sent via email forced an evacuation of the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 school building at the intersection of Cumberland and Lincoln streets in Lebanon on Thursday afternoon.
The bitcoin email
"Like many across the region, one of our employees at the 1 Cumberland St. building opened an email with a bomb threat today," Brian Barnhart, executive director at IU 13 said. "While we deem it to be rather benign, the safety of our children and staff is paramount to us at IU 13, so we took all necessary precautions and evacuated the building and notified first responders."
Barnhart confirmed the email was the same one circulating nationwide and reported by multiple news outlets requesting bitcoin payment along with the bomb threat.
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Evacuation
Staff inside the building pulled the fire alarm to insure a safe evacuation just before 2 p.m. Thursday before calling the county Emergency Management Agency to report the bomb threat, according to Fire Commissioner Duane Trautman.
Many gathered at the Rite-Aid across the street from the facility.
"They welcomed our little ones out of the cold immediately, so our staff was able to shelter there in place with their students," Barnhart said.
The students were evacuated into a chilly 40-degree day, but emergency responders arranged to have two Lebanon Transit buses in position to both provide shelter for the children and to safely transport them back to the parking lot of the IU 13 building to be reunited with their parents.
Dismissal was in process when the threat was received, so an exact number of people evacuated was not available since several buses had already left with students on board, Barnhart said.
Trautman estimated about 150 students and staff members were evacuated, and Barnhart said he felt that number was correct.
According to Facebook reports, many parents were already on the scene for a Family Day event.
"I'm happy to say staff and students all reported to their designated evacuations and we've responded appropriately without incident," Barnhart said.
Barnhart confirmed that all students were accounted for and were reunited with their families.
Police swept the building after the evacuation and declared it all clear at 3:18 p.m.
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Turning a negative into a positive
"This was more of a logistical mess than anything else," Trautman said of the bomb threat. "It's a pretty lousy thing to do."
While the situation may have been a headache for first responders and IU 13 staff, Barnhart was happy with how the community responded to the incident.
He mentioned the shelter that Rite Aid provided to his staff and students as well as the buses Lebanon Transit provided at the request of the police and fire departments.
"The whole Lebanon community just rose to the occasion to support the children," Barnhart said.