Introduction
Bomb threats are a serious matter that can cause panic and chaos if not handled properly. In a college setting, it is important for staff members to be prepared and knowledgeable about how to deal with bomb threats in order to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff. While bomb threats may be rare, they should never be taken lightly. The consequences of a bomb explosion can be devastating, and it is crucial that staff members take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety and that of everyone around them.
What is a Bomb Threat?
A bomb threat is a warning that an explosive device has been planted or will be detonated in a certain location. These threats can come in many forms, including phone calls, letters, emails, or social media posts.
The person making the threat may give specific details about the location of the bomb, the time it will detonate, or other details to cause fear and panic. It's important to take all bomb threats seriously, even if they seem unlikely or are later determined to be a hoax.
Even though the procedures in this presentation refer primarily to telephoned bomb threats, the same principles will apply regardless of how the threats are received. Additionally the actions taken in response to a bomb threat call, will also apply should an actual or suspected explosive device be discovered.
Bomb Threats!
Receipt of a bomb threat (or discovery of a suspected explosive device) is a situation school staff must be prepared to handle in a calm and professional manner.
It is extremely rare for a person who builds and plants a bomb to call and alert the target before the bomb goes off. However, the potential for bomb threats exists at all campus buildings, and although very few bomb threats actually involve the placing of a bomb, all threats must be taken seriously to ensure the safety of students, staff, and visitors.
If a bomb threat has been received, a crime has been committed, and the local authorities must be notified immediately.
What to do if you receive a Bomb Threat!
- If you receive a bomb threat, take a deep breath and try to stay focused. Be calm, be courteous and listen. Do not interrupt the caller. Get the attention of another staff member and have them listen in.
- If you are a Student Worker, do the following: remain calm and politely advise the caller: "I am a student. Please hold while I get a staff member to talk to you." Immediately signal any nearby staff member to come to the phone. Do not yell. If no staff member is near, lay the phone down and quickly go find one to take the call. Do not hang up or ask the person to call back!
- Write down as much useful information as possible from and about the caller. Use the "Telephone Bomb Threat Report" form as a guide while talking with the caller. The person making the threat may give specific details about the location of the bomb, the time it will detonate, or other important details.
- When safe to do so and when instructed by the Incident Commander evacuate the building. Follow the evacuation procedures that have been established by your campus. Do not use elevators!
Evacuation
Once the evacuation has been initiated and people are being directed to an exterior gathering area, it is important to be reminded that the easiest place to plant a device is outside. The device can be placed in a vehicle, a trash can, or some shrubbery surrounding the facility so ensure there is a safe distance.
If someone is injured during the evacuation, staff members should call for medical assistance right away and provide first aid if necessary. It is also important to keep a record of who was in the building at the time of the threat, as this information may be helpful to emergency assistance officials at a later time.
What Does a Bomb look like?
Suspicious Packages and Letters
The FBI and the ATF provide the following signs to look for when identifying packages that may contain explosives:
- Badly typed, misspelled, or handwritten addresses or labels
- Packages wrapped in string or twine
- Foreign writing, addresses, or postage
- Leaks, stains, protruding wires, strings, or tape
- No return address or nonsensical return addresses
- A package or letter arriving before or after a call from an unknown person, asking if the package has been received
- Generic or incorrect titles
- Excess postage on small packages or letters
- Handwritten notes, such as "to be opened in the privacy of," "confidential," " your lucky day is here," or "prize enclosed'
If a Suspicious Package is Found
- DO NOT open or touch a suspicious package.
- DO NOT broadcast via your cell phones or two-way radio units near a suspicious package. Such transmitters can create a field of electrical energy sufficient to trigger electronic blasting caps. Use a nearby phone, if available.
- Get to a safe distance and notify Campus Saftey.
- Search teams to cease all further searches and assist in evacuation, unless more than one bombs, IEDs, or suspicious packages were reported/found.
- Be wary of areas where there is a possibility of flying glass or secondary explosion effects.
- Evacuate areas below, above, and adjacent to a suspicious device first.
In conclusion, it is important for staff members to be prepared for bomb threats. This means knowing how to handle a bomb threat and what steps to take if you receive a threat.
It also means being aware of the signs of a potential bomb threat and reporting any suspicious activity to the proper authorities.
By being prepared and knowing what to do in the event of a bomb threat, we can help ensure the safety of everyone in the building. Remember, it's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to dealing with bomb threats.
- Campus Safety (559) 791-2440
- Porterville Police Department: (559) 782-7400
- PC Bomb Threat Checklist
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
- Federal Bureau of Investigations