On Wednesday Sept 17, Hamden High School was evacuated to the bleachers in the second half of fourth period, because of a “gas odor” in the building, according to the administration of HHS. The cause of the gas leak is currently unknown, and the building was deemed safe at 10:34 a.m., by the Hamden Fire Department, the start of period 5.

Science teacher Mr. Wilson speculated that the cause of the “gas leak” was either something related to the bathroom drain taps that did not have water, something coming from a science room or the culinary arts rooms, or a “stink bomb that would smell like sulfur.” He said that it was more likely a culinary arts room than a science room because of the location of the smell. Wilson was in the middle of teaching a chemistry class.

Interim Principal Tegan Willis refused a request to comment.

The evacuation effort was strong, according to SRO Steve Teague, who was at the middle school at the time of the evacuation and arrived “late” at the high school. He said that the principal had already delegated responsibilities and that officers were stationed at the perimeter of the bleachers, the standard procedure.

Senior and Class President Derick Kerr said that the experience of being evacuated was “feeling slightly traumatic, especially because there has been no disclosure of information.” He said that he was not very worried, as he said that most of the threats at Hamden High “don’t materialize.” Kerr was evacuated from his English 101 class. 

“We were going to die,” said Junior Margret Otieno. “We were slow as flip while evacuating. I was in AP Bio, and I literally just came back from the bathroom.”

Veteran history teacher Thomas Vece said that he has evacuated in the ballpark of 25 times throughout his career, though he said the last time was more than five years ago. He said that the school “has got it down pat,” and that the evacuation went very smoothly. 

Amaya Martin, a sophomore, said that it was her first time evacuating. She said that it was “chaotic because there were so many people.”

Students who were not able to eat their lunch due to the evacuation were able to go to the cafeteria later in the day.