When I was in high school, we had them a couple times a year I think. Maybe less, i can't remember, but they would evacuate the school, we'd all go out into a big open field across the street until it was dealt with. It was always some kid hoping that he could get out of school for the day. We never took it seriously. These days, it would bother me if it were in the elementary school especially.
Edited to add, that we don't live in a large city either, we probably had a combined two towns worth of 33,000 people.

Oh I'd be ticked off beyond belief. And if your community is anything like ours, I'm sure the administrator's offices were bombarded with complaints from angry and worried parents. I do believe a written letter to the superintendent and/or school board is a great idea, I would possibly even cc one to your children's school's principal just to have all the bases covered. And then to really get your point across...show up to the next school board meeting and demand answers and that the district works diligently on an emergency plan, so any future incidences won't be as chaotic! Good luck!!

And I also want to add that I'm glad it turned out to be a false alarm, and that no one was hurt.

__________________
~*~ Angie~*~
Wife to Brian
SAHM to Sarah & Andy 2/11/2000