A message to evacuate the high school was sounded to the entire student body on Aug. 29 at approximately 9:30 a.m. Less than 15 minutes later, the North Lot was filled with the entire student body. At first, some of the reactions were unserious as many people handled the situation like it was an average drill. Spirits remained high as students joked about the evacuation cutting into their third hour, watching the paramedics, fire-fighters and sheriffs roll into the parking lot. But as time ticked by and the sun grew hotter, they quickly realized this was no drill.

“I’m a little confused as to what is happening,” senior Janelle Koch said. “I don’t know if we’re going to be able to go back to school or if we’re going to be able to go home.”

News eventually trickled down from law enforcement that students would have to move to the gas station across Highway 92. The sheriffs closed the road temporarily to allow the entire student body to cross.

“I’m a little anxious right now. I’m just trying to find the XC team so we can keep everybody safe,” senior Donovan Ness said.

Busses were sent to pick people up by class and take them to the YMCA. There, they would receive any future updates on the leak, but this information was initially unclear among all the chaos.

“I don’t understand why we [need] to be moved to the YMCA,” senior Elijah Jackson said.

More students were equally as confused and frustrated with the location switch.

“I understand why we got moved to the YMCA but it was a little bit of a pain to get on the buses and be shipped over to the YMCA,” senior Kyle Askins said.

Despite the mixed opinions, all students were safely and successfully transported to the YMCA, where they found out that all high school students were to be dismissed early at 11:45 am.

As of 1 p.m., students were allowed to retrieve their cars and the building is open to retrieve belongings until 4 p.m.

This story is continuing to develop.