Parents question alerts after threat locked down every Meriwether County school

A reported threat forced every school in Meriwether County into lockdown Thursday before officials announced an early dismissal.

Some parents are questioning how they were notified and two students are calling for more emergency drills.

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The Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office said it was investigating the threat with assistance from surrounding law enforcement agencies.

The school system said a 911 call initially prompted instructions to place one school on immediate lockdown. Shortly afterward, officials were advised to lock down all campuses. The district said law enforcement immediately secured the schools.

Mercedes Watts, whose three children attend Unity Elementary School, told Channel 2’s Michael Seiden she first learned about the situation on Facebook.

“We didn’t get a phone call or nothing,” Watts said.

Watts said she waited outside for two hours to pick up her children after learning about the announced 11:45 a.m. dismissal. She described her children as frightened and confused.

“I told them that mom was here and I got them now, and everything was going to be OK,” she said.

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In a statement, the district said the urgency of the situation meant individual phone calls were not made. Officials said they shared a social media post because they considered it the fastest and most efficient way to communicate with parents and the community.

The district announced that lockdowns would be lifted as buses and parents arrived to pick up students, with law enforcement present throughout dismissal.

At Greenville Middle and High schools, students described hearing a code red announcement and sheltering in a classroom closet.

Davayah Russell said she and her classmates were confused about what was happening and searched online for information.

“We were just freaking out. We did not know what to do,” Russell said.

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Russell credited school staff with working to protect students but said she believes more drills are needed.

Jazeria Carter also said she felt unprepared and told Channel 2 she had not practiced that type of drill.

Channel 2 asked the district how often code red drills are conducted, what guidance students and staff receive and whether officials plan to review emergency procedures. The district’s statement did not address those questions.

The sheriff’s office urged the public to remain patient and avoid spreading unverified information while investigators work to determine who was behind the threat.