Bomb Threat
Bomb Threat Facts
- Should you see a suspicious or unknown object in your space, do not touch it. Notify the Property Management Office and/or public safety authorities on-site immediately.
- If the caller gives a very detailed description of the bomb and where it was place (e.g., "I placed a bomb on the third-floor men's restroom in the first stall. It is equipped with a mercury switch and a screw face clock detonator"), it would indicate a real device had been placed.
- Evacuation creates a greater exposure to danger; falls may occur and stress may cause heart attacks.
- Please stay in your area unless directed by building security to evacuate. Evacuation of your suite will be determined by the police department/bomb squad, and communicated by building security.
If You Receive a Bomb Threat
If a tenant receives a bomb threat, it is usually over the telephone by an anonymous caller. If you receive a bomb threat, attempt to do the following:
Note the following:
Male or Female: Any Accent: Time of day: Exact Wording of the threat: |
Approximate Age: Callers Voice (calm, excited, drunk, angry, vulgar): Background Sounds: |
- Dial 9-1-1
- When you notify the emergency response authorities of the threat, keep in mind that unless the threat indicates imminent danger, you probably will not be directed to vacate the facility.
- Once you have completed the telephone report and followed all emergency response team directions, you should contact the Property Management Office.
If Received by Telephone
- Listen for background noise, ask the following questions and record the answers specifically:
- When is the bomb going to explode?
- Why did you place it?
- Where is the bomb right now?
- What kind of bomb is it?
- What does it look like?
- What is the detonation time?
- What will make it explode?
- What is your name and call back number?
- What is your address?
- Is it in a package or breifcase?
- Why did you place the bomb there? - Keep the caller on the telephone as long as possible.
- Do not hang up the phone on which you received the call. Call and report the threat to 9-1-1 on a separate telephone.
- Record the call (if applicable).
If you have the equipment, record the call. If you can't record, take notes and detailed as you can, including the following information:
- Time and date of call
- Exact words of caller (or as close as possible)
- Gender and approximate age of caller
- Accent and speech pattern/tone of voice
- Background noises
- Time call concluded
If Written Threat Received by Mail
- Safeguard the object (letter, envelope or package) as evidence.
- Do not handle it further.
- Notify the emergency response authorities at 9-1-1. Do not use a cellular phone in the vicinity of the suspicious object.
- Notify the Property Management Office.
If Suspected Bomb Received by Mail
If you are uncertain about an object (letter, package, envelope), treat it as a suspected bomb. Some characteristics to look for are:
LETTER & PACKAGE – BOMB RECOGNITION POINTS:
Foreign Mail, Air Mail & Special Delivery Excessive postage Hand written or poorly typed address Incorrect titles Title but no names Lopsided or uneven envelope Protruding wires or tinfoil, Restrictive markings, such as Confidential, Personal, etc. |
Misspelling of common words Oily Stains or discolorations Partial or no return address Excessive weight Rigid envelope Visual distraction Excessive securing material (i.e. masking tape, string, etc.) |
Handling a Suspected Bomb
- Do not touch, move or disturb the letter, package or envelope.
- Notify other employees and evacuate the immediate area, prevent re-entry and leave doors and windows open.
- Notify the local authorities and give exact location and brief description of the object. Do not use a cellular phone in the vicinity of the suspicious object..
- Shut off gas or fuel lines and remove flammables.
The emergency response team and/or the Property Manager will evaluate the situation and determine appropriate action.
Notification
Immediately following the receipt of information regarding the bomb threat, the Property Management Office will:
- Notify the police department
- Call for the building security and operations personnel to report to the designated assembly
location
- Initiate the search of the public areas of the building and other designated spaces
Tenant notification procedures
- When the Property Management Office is notified of a bomb threat, all Authorized Tenant
Contacts or their alternates will be notified of the threat
Bomb Search
If you locate a Suspicious Object:
- Assume it is dangerous
- Do not touch, move or disturb the object
- Do not use cell phones, remote controls or transmit radio calls on the same floor as the suspicious object
- Attempt to locate a possible owner of the object in the immediate vicinity
- Notify other employees and evacuate the immediate area, and prevent anyone from re-entering
- Leave doors and windows open
- Notify the emergency response authorities and give exact location and brief description of the object
- The engineering department will shut off gas lines, if applicable
The Property Management Office will evaluate the situation and determine appropriate action.
After each area has been searched, the Authorized Tenant Contacts will report their results to the Property Management Office.