Denise Washington, the mother of a daughter in fifth grade and a son in seventh, said she didn't learn of the incident until 2:20 p.m. Thursday afternoon. It was daughter who called her. "I wished I found out sooner," Washington said. "I was upset to find out through my daughter." Though the district made automated phone calls, Washington, who was at work, did not receive one, she said.

Lawrence Middle School PTA President Abby Schmidt said she thought the evacuation went smoothly and school officials took all the necessary steps to maintain student safety. "The children were in a safe condition all the time," she said. "The walk from the schools was not long and the children were monitored throughout."

Teachers were bussed back to the middle school to get their vehicles. Late in the afternoon two National Grid trucks were on site at the middle school.

The Inwood and Hewlett fire departments also responded to the scene, McHugh said.

Vanessa Parker contributed to this story.