The Bomb Threat Response Plan

1
The Bomb Threat Response Plan
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives
2
The Reality of Bombs

• Bombings are very rare. In the last three years,
  there were only 65 incidents where an actual
  explosive device was placed in a school
  (excluding colleges and universities).
• However, from 1993-1997, juveniles were
  responsible for 34 of the bombings in the United
  States. In some states, the percentage is as
  high as 66. 87 of the devices that juveniles
  build function, which is 6 higher than the
  national average of 81 for all bombs placed on a
  target. Juveniles have built sophisticated
  devices, some even using high explosives.
• We must investigate and respond to every bomb
  threat we receive.
• To respond properly and consistently, we have
  created a bomb threat response plan. This
  presentation will explain our plan.

3
The Reality of Bombs

• Even though bomb threats may be frightening, we
  must remain calm and professional. Our first
  priority is to safeguard students and staff. We
  must stick to the protocol to ensure that panic
  does not occur.
• We must also take measures to prevent bomb
  threats.

4
Penalties for False Bomb Threats

• Making a false bomb threat is a federal offense
  punishable under United States Code 18-844e, with
  a penalty of up to ten years in prison, 250,000
  fine, or both. This penalty also applies to
  juvenile offenders.

5
University and College Policy

• Does your district have specific penalties and
  sanctions if a student or staff member is caught
  making a false bomb threat?
• Has your school adopted any additional measures?

6
Prevention

• To combat bomb threats, we have implemented a
  two-part prevention initiative
• Improve the physical security of the school
• Improve relations between students, faculty, and
  administration.
• It is especially important that we listen to
  students and make students feel comfortable
  coming forward with information.

7
Prevention Suspicious Items

• As part of our incident prevention effort, all
  staff must be alert for suspicious items.
• School staff know what belongs in the buildings
  and what does not. If you see an item that you
  feel does not belong or makes you suspicious in
  any way
• DO NOT TOUCH IT.
• If possible, secure the area (such as locking the
  door to the room where the item is).
• Notify the Site Decision Maker.

8
Prevention Suspicious Packages

• Many bombs are mailed to the target. All staff
  who receive mail should be aware of the possible
  signs of a suspicious package. The presence of a
  few or many of these items should activate the
  suspicious item protocol.
• Foreign postmark, airmail, or special delivery
  markings.
• Postage irregularities, including excessive
  postage, no postage, or unusual stamps.
• Return address irregularities, including no
  return address, a return address that does not
  match the postmark, or a return address that is
  not familiar to the person the package is
  addressed to
• Delivery address irregularities, including a
  title with no name, the wrong title with a name,
• Badly typed or poorly written addresses
• Misspelled words
• Restrictive markings or special handling
  instructions, such as "Personal," "Confidential,"
  "Special Delivery," "Open By Addressee Only"

9
Prevention Suspicious Packages

• Suspicious package indicators (continued)
• Visual distractions on the package such as
  drawings, statements, or handmade postage
• A rigid or bulky envelope
• An oddly shaped, unevenly-weighted, lopsided, or
  lumpy package
• A strange odor coming from the package
• Oily stains or discoloration on the package
• Protruding wires or tinfoil
• Over-wrapping with excessive securing material
  such as tape or string
• A package that is not expected by the addressee
• A package left by unknown person

10
Prevention Suspicious Packages

• Although the presence of one of these conditions
  does not mean, for certain, that there is a bomb
  in the package, check further if any of these
  indicators are present. Find out if the
  recipient is expecting the package, recognizes
  the return address, and if the package is the
  right size for the item expected. Verify the
  return address. If any of these items come up a
  "no," investigate further and alert police.
• Most importantly, DO NOT OPEN ANY SUSPICIOUS
  PACKAGES. Many mail bombs are triggered by the
  act of opening the box or envelope. Leave the
  package where it is, evacuate the area, and call
  the bomb squad.

11
Bomb Threat Response Plan

• Your school needs to develop a bomb threat
  response plan. Well now discuss the details of
  that plan.

12
Bomb Threat Response Team

• Your school should create a Bomb Threat Response
  Team. This multidisciplinary team has the
  responsibility of determining and coordinating
  the response to each bomb threat, as well as
  interfacing with community emergency services
  like fire and police.
• The members of our BTRT should be selected and
  trained.
• Each BTRT member has a specific responsibility.
  Your BTRT should create a bomb threat response
  plan specifically for your school.

13
Site Decision Maker

• The head of the BTRT is the Site Decision Maker.
  This person will coordinate all activities and
  make all final judgment calls. An alternate
  should be selected in the event that this person
  is not available.

14
Coordination with Emergency Services

• The BTRT should coordinate all its efforts with
  fire, police, the bomb squad, and other community
  resources. Each agencys role will be defined
  and emergency services should visited the school
  to plan their response. We are striving for a
  seamless response to all incidents.

15
Facilities Review

• In cooperation with emergency services, you
  should conduct a review of your facilities and
  implement additional physical security measures
  where deemed appropriate.

16
Communication Methods

• In the event that the BTRT needs to communicate
  instructions to staff and students, you should
  utilize a pre-selected communication system.
• If that primary method is unavailable, a
  secondary communication system should be in place.

17
Threat Reception Protocols

• The BTRT should implement specific protocols for
  receiving a bomb threat and gathering
  information. All staff should be trained in
  these protocols.

18
Threat Assessment

• Once a threat is received, the BTRT is assembled.
  The Threat Assessment Team then assesses the
  threat and determines an appropriate response.
• Responses may include search and evacuate if
  warranted, evacuate, or another method.

19
Response

• Once the BTRT and Threat Assessment Teams have
  determined how to proceed, the Search Teams may
  be assembled to search the school and/or the
  Evacuation Units may be deployed to oversee
  evacuation. These teams should be trained and
  all staff should be trained in evacuation
  procedures for a bomb threat.

20
Response

• If the threat maker is known and is a student,
  the BTRT/TAT may take additional steps, including
  interviewing the threatner, and his/her teachers,
  friends, and parents. The Team should then
  determine appropriate immediate and long-term
  responses to address the current situation and
  the students long-term well-being.

21
Searching Own Areas

• If a search is called for, you should have a
  communication method or code established.
• This will be your notification to check your own
  area for suspicious items. Visually sweep your
  room, looking for out-of-place items. If you
  find anything out of the ordinary, take the
  following steps.

22
Suspicious Items
Click the video box to begin.
23
Search Teams

• The common areas of the building and the
  exterior should be searched by volunteer search
  teams who have been trained for this activity.

24
Evacuation

• If an evacuation is called for, notification
  should be made through a predetermined manner.
  Then, a specific evacuation protocol should be
  followed. All staff should be trained in this
  protocol.

25
Special Situations

• There should be additional steps for situations
  when a bomb threat involves
• A school bus
• A special event
• A field trip
• Before or after school hours
• During summer sessions

26
If There is an Explosion

• Administration should call 911, Fire, and Police.
• Take cover. Remain where you are unless you are
  in immediate danger. If you are in immediate
  danger, get quickly to the nearest safe location.
• Notify the Office via immediately if someone you
  are with is injured or if you are injured. Also
  notify the office if you have any information
  about the explosion or what might have caused it.
• If possible and you are trained, render emergency
  assistance to injured persons in the area.
• Administration should communicate instructions to
  staff as quickly as possible.
• Custodial staff should shut off gas and
  electricity to the building if it can be done
  safely.
• Administration should assess what exploded,
  where, and what injuries were caused. They
  should determine evacuation course of action and
  communicate with first responders.
• As quickly as possible, EMS will treat injuries.
  
• If the decision is made to evacuate, you should
  receive evacuation instructions.

27
Follow-Up

• The BTRT should debrief after every bomb threat
  response to improve our procedures. Please
  contact someone if you have feedback.
• In cooperation with law enforcement, the school
  should investigate every bomb threat and attempt
  to find out who perpetrated it and take
  appropriate action. If you hear any rumors or
  discussions about the threat, please speak to a
  member of the BTRT.
• Encourage students you work with to tell you if
  they have any knowledge of who made the threat.
  Then, report this information to the BTRT.

28
Follow-Up

• Your school should provide support services for
  staff and students after a bomb threat.
• Your school should also properly reports each
  bomb threat to law enforcement and to the
  district.

29
Thank You

• Understanding and following procedures will be
  extremely important in an emergency where
  emotions may be running high. Thank you for your
  attention.