News Summary
On May 3, 2025, bomb threats triggered evacuations at Mercer Middle School and Groves High School in Savannah, GA, as well as at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Authorities deemed the threats not credible but conducted thorough investigations. Parents were swiftly informed of school evacuations. The airport faced significant disruptions, with passengers evacuated and traffic rerouted. Despite early assurances of safety, normal operations may take time to resume. Officials are urging the public to remain vigilant in light of these incidents.
Savannah, GA – A series of bomb threats led to evacuations at local schools and Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport on May 3, 2025. The Savannah Chatham County Public Schools evacuated Mercer Middle School and Groves High School as a precautionary measure. However, officials have stated that they do not consider the bomb threat credible at this time.
The evacuations at the schools occurred approximately 30 minutes before the end of the school day, resulting in an early dismissal for students. Parents were notified quickly about the situation to ensure all students were safely accounted for.
Simultaneously, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport experienced significant disruptions due to a bomb threat reported to the airport’s police department around noon. Following the threat, additional law enforcement and FBI agents were dispatched to the scene to assess the situation and ensure safety.
The airport announced on their social media platforms that there was a security risk, advising passengers to prepare for flight disruptions. In response to the alert, the terminal building was evacuated, and all passengers were directed to the parking garage area, where they could safely wait while the situation was being resolved.
Additionally, inbound traffic to the airport was rerouted to prevent any potentially dangerous situations from developing. Passengers caught in the terminal evacuation had to leave some personal belongings behind, but the airport has established procedures to handle lost items through their lost and found.
As travelers dealt with the chaos, the airport faced further complications with delays spilling over to nearby Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, impacting air travel throughout the region. Around 2:40 p.m., airport authorities confirmed that the area had been cleared and that both staff and passengers could re-enter the terminal. TSA officials conducted a thorough sweep with bomb sniffing dogs before allowing the return of airport operations.
Normal operations at the airport, however, may take the better part of the day to fully restore, despite the situation being declared safe shortly after 3 p.m. Passengers who were evacuated may continue experiencing delays and disruptions in their travel plans due to the aftermath of the bomb threat.
The events of May 3 serve as a reminder of the need for heightened security measures in public spaces. While officials have deemed the threats at both the schools and the airport not credible, the safety of the community remains a top priority. Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the origins of these threats to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
Authorities encourage all residents and travelers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity as public safety is everyone’s responsibility. Updates regarding the ongoing situation and potential delays will be communicated through official channels as more information becomes available.
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Additional Resources
- WJCL News
- Wikipedia: Bomb Threat
- WTOC News
- Google Search: Savannah Airport Bomb Threat
- Savannah Now
- Google Scholar: Bomb Threat Security Measures
- WSAV News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Bomb Threat
- Fox 5 Atlanta
- Google News: Savannah Hilton Head Airport Evacuation
