Peoria Residents Shelter at Manual Academy During Threat

Community members sheltered in place at Manual Academy after a bomb threat led to evacuation of a one-mile radius.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Emergency Response

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a quiet brick school building at dusk under an overcast sky, one row of windows glowing warm, evoking a community sheltering through an emergency. — Community members sheltered in place Friday night at Manual Academy in Peoria after a reported bomb threat forced evacuation of a one-mile radius. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Community members sheltered in place Friday night at Manual Academy in Peoria amid a reported bomb threat. Residents within a one-mile radius were evacuated.

Why it matters

The shelter-in-place order and evacuation affected residents across a wide area of Peoria during a Friday night emergency. Officials said they were coordinating the response and urged people to remain at the school.

Officials established a 1-mile evacuation radius around Manual Academy in response to the bomb threat. The number of people sheltering and the status of the threat remain unconfirmed in the available information.

The players

Mayor Rita Ali

Rita Ali is the mayor of Peoria, Illinois, who came to the school to address residents during the shelter-in-place.

Congressman Eric Sorensen

Eric Sorensen is a U.S. Representative from Illinois who joined local officials at the school during the emergency.

Governor JB Pritzker

JB Pritzker is the governor of Illinois, with whom elected officials said they had been in contact about the situation.

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency shelter and disaster relief services.

The details

Residents were first told to leave a basketball shootout event before being directed to shelter at Manual Academy. Peoria Public Schools resource officers provided food and water, and people were encouraged to stay in the school's boiler room.

Friday night, November 13, 2026: Community members sheltered at Manual Academy amid the bomb threat.
Around 10 PM, November 13, 2026: Mayor Rita Ali, Congressman Eric Sorensen, State Sen. Dave Koehler and State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth arrived at the school.
Overnight, November 13–14, 2026: The Red Cross brought hospital beds for people sheltering at the school.

Seasonal Patterns

Emergency sheltering at schools during threats follows standard municipal protocols in Illinois cities. This incident adds to the local record of school-based emergency responses in Peoria.

Residents within the evacuated area should follow instructions from local officials and emergency responders. Those seeking shelter should check with Peoria Public Schools or city officials for current guidance.

The takeaway

Clear communication from officials and designated shelter sites helped residents respond during the Friday night threat. Staying informed through official channels remains important during fast-moving emergencies.