Hours after a chemical leak led to fear and uncertainty across Atchison, the community gathered on Friday night to cheer on the Atchison High School football team.
During the chemical leak, around 500 students were evacuated from the area on buses and taken to Atchison Airport.
Many questioned whether the game on Friday would still happen following the large emergency response.
However, after the chemical clouds cleared and the sun went down, the Friday night lights turned on and shined.
"This is more soothing," explained Atchison resident Billi Jo White, whose son plays on the football team. "This is more calm after the storm."
Wearing red and cheering loudly, fans welcomed the football game atmosphere after living through panic during Friday's emergency.
"There was a lot of chaos going on and pandemonium," White explained. "People were so scared. I just stayed in my house. I didn't go anywhere. I was scared for my son because he was in the midst of all of it."
The game at Atchison High School offered the community a chance to thank those who made a difference on Friday.
During a pregame announcement, fans gave loud applause after the announcer thanked first responders for their service.
The game served as an important opportunity for the community to come together after a tough day.
"It could have been easy just to cancel the game and just take it off, but I think it was important we still had it," said Atchison High School teacher Annie Burbank, who helped evacuate students during the chemical leak. "It's almost like you wouldn't know that happened because people are in such great spirits."
Despite Atchison High School losing Friday night's game, parents were thankful to be a part of the crowd.
For many of them, Friday will be a day they never forget.
"I think Atchison being such a small community, they just came together," said White. "Everybody came together, worked, and pulled it all together and got through this."
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Tom Dempsey can be reached at Tom.Dempsey@KSHB.com.
