Arcadia parents distressed after week of swatting threats

ARCADIA, Fla. (WINK)—Parents are keeping their children home from school following three swatting incidents that left students scared and confused.

Michelle, a mother of two, described how her second grader's entire class was crying after law enforcement swept the school with AR-15s. She said the experience was so traumatic that she did not send her children back to school Thursday.

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DeSoto school board to hold closed emergency school safety meeting following multiple threats

ARCADIA, Fla. (WINK)— The DeSoto County School Board is holding a closed emergency meeting on Friday following three threats in one week.

"Wednesday is when they got that bomb threat and they evacuated. I mean, they watched them go in with AR-15s and the bomb squad, you know, like, that's scary," Michelle said.

When a threat is identified, the school district said lockdowns are put in place immediately. Students and staff follow protocol while school administration works with the sheriff's office and Arcadia police to secure the campus.

Michelle said she feels the school is safe because it's a small town with significant security, but the idea of something happening is overwhelming.

"They asked me, mom, do we have to go to school tomorrow? And I was like, no, I'm not sending them to school. Like, I dunno, Monday maybe we'll think about it over the weekend, but not for the rest of this week," Michelle said.

Katrina Brown, a licensed mental health counselor at Stillwaters Trauma Recovery Center in Florida, said staying calm during the threats is crucial.

"The best thing you can do for a child or even the parent in that situation is to be there, that calm presence in the midst of that child being dysregulated," Brown said.

When children talk about their experience or fears, Brown said to always listen.

"We wanna take their feelings very seriously into consideration and normalizing that it is okay to be upset. It's okay to feel nervous," Brown said.

Over the next 90 days, Brown said parents should watch for signs their children are struggling. Trouble sleeping, over or under eating, or being more withdrawn or reactive in their behavior can all be indicators.

"That can all be indicators that they might still be struggling with the event and might need to talk to someone," Brown said.

If children are nervous to return to school or show signs of anxiety, Brown said there are breathing and grounding exercises parents can do with their children.