The Bomb Threat Response Plan

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The Bomb Threat Response Plan
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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).
• We must investigate and respond to every bomb
  threat we receive.
• To respond properly and consistently, you must
  have a bomb threat response plan.

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Threat Reception Protocols

• We have specific protocols for receiving a bomb
  threat and gathering information outlined in the
  safety folders . All staff will be trained in
  these protocols.
• Threat levels guidelines are in the site Safety
  Binder.
• The big question is often, When to evacuate?
  or When not to evacuate?
• The Site Decision Maker is the Incident
  Coordinator (Principal or Designee). This person
  will consult with law enforcement, coordinate all
  activities and make all final judgment calls.

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Tabletop 1Tabletop 1A student walks into
the office saying he found this in the parking
lot and doesnt think it belongs at school. He
proceeds to set this device on the office
counter.
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• SUGGESTED RESPONSES
• Evacuate office
• Call Safe Schools /911
• Preview and visual search of evacuation routes
  and areas to be used to ensure no other similar
  devices are present
• Partial Evacuation of campus (only appropriate if
  the office building is separate and away from
  classrooms) or full evacuation .
• Notify staff to prepare for or give evacuation
  order.
• Office to take emergency cards
• Confirm the building is empty
• Safe Schools notifies Central Office- Director,
  Supt., PIO

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Suggested Responses

• Perimeter containment Caution tape/staff far
  enough away, but able to warn others to stay away
  from office complex
• Account for all students and adults
• Safe Schools will call in bomb specialists to
  evaluate
• Prepare message about incident to evacuated staff
  and students.
• Include cell phone script
• Send Connect Ed message to parents
• Wait for all clear Extended wait may prompt
  evacuation to another site

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Tabletop 2 .

• Early Monday morning, a Physical Education
  Teacher phones the office to report he has
  spotted what he thinks is a homemade bottle
  rocket in the far corner of the athletic field.

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SUGGESTED RESPONSES

• Call Safe Schools /911
• Perimeter containment of area around explosive
  device.
• Preview and visual search of surrounding areas to
  ensure no other similar devices are present
• .
• Notify staff /students they are safe, but must
  avoid field area
• Safe Schools notifies Central Office- Director,
  Supt., PIO

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Safe Schools will call in bomb specialists to
evaluatePrepare factual message about incident
for staff and students.Include cell phone
script Send Connect Ed message to parents
Suggested Responses
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Tabletop 3
On Monday morning the custodian arrives to find
the exterior of several classrooms spray painted
and scribbled on with marking pen.
A crude, threatening message is written on the
door of room 5. It reads This is only a taste
of the future of the end. Bombs in 10 days will
crumble this school Death to this prison and
all the wardens in it!
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Decision Making

• All bomb threats must be taken seriously and
  carefully analyzed. The bomb report should be
  treated as genuine until investigated and until a
  search of the school has been completed. Begin
  your decision-making process by gathering as much
  information about the bomb report as possible.

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Factors to Consider

• Have there been national bomb incidents lately?
• Have there been other hoaxes lately?
• Has a hostile student been suspended recently?
• Are there exams scheduled for today?
• Is it senior skip day?
• Any unexplained student unrest?
• Any rumors circulating about a student
  threatening to harm others?
• How much information did the caller or written
  note provide? (You can generally get more
  information out of a caller when it is not a
  hoax.)
• Consider the seriousness in the note/voice of the
  caller?
• Were any specific details given?
• Any missing chemicals?
• Did the caller have knowledge of the design of
  the school?
• Any recent break-ins? (Look for evidence of
  illegal entry.)
• Did the caller give repeated warnings? This
  seriously escalates the degree of danger.
• Check your surveillance tapes (if available).
• Large-scale bomb incidents, such as Oklahoma and
  the embassy building in New York received no
  warnings.

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Threat Assessment

• Analyze to determine if this is a low, medium or
  high level threat.
• Obtain advice from Sheriffs Dept or CHPD
  explosive device specialists.
• Safe Schools Threat Specialist, Sgt. Cully will
  do a threat assessment.
• If appropriate, discuss psychological aspects of
  threat with District Crisis Counselor, Barry
  Turner.

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Prevention Suspicious Items

• As part of our incident prevention effort, all
  staff must be alert for suspicious items.
• School staff know what belongs in our building
  and what doesnt. 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.

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Possible alternatives

• 1. Conduct a low profile search of the exterior
  grounds and public areas of the building.
  Possibly, daily
• 2. Conduct a comprehensive search having all
  staff search their work area, in addition to the
  grounds and public areas so the entire building
  is covered.
• 3. Search with partial evacuation.
• 4. Evacuate after searching and finding a
  suspicious item.
• 5. Evacuate immediately if search or additional
  threats warrant it .
• 6. Additional security such as surveillance
  cameras, security patrol, security guards, etc
• Evacuating immediately is an alternative that on
  face value appears to be the preferred approach,
  however, under certain circumstances evacuating
  personnel may increase rather than decrease the
  risk of injury. Bombs are three times more likely
  to be planted outside buildings than inside

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Tabletop 4

• The Secretary receives a
• phone call from a female
• stating her boyfriend told
• her he planted a bomb in
• the MP Room. It is
• concealed in a purple
• backpack.

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Tabletop 4 continued

• The Secretary feels the caller was an adult
  female, with an angry, loud voice. She screamed,
  This is what your f------ school deserves
  anyway. I hope your scared now. You shouldnt
  have disrespected him!

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Suggested Responses

• Report threat to Safe Schools and request
  assistance.
• Evacuation of MP Room, if occupied
• Provide containment of MP room while search
  begins by staff/safe schools.
• Document bomb threat information
• If backpack or suspicious item, not located
• expand search on campus.

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Suggested Responses

• Notify staff by email or written note to search
  rooms/areas.
• Partial evacuation could be conducted to
  facilitate search.
• If nothing suspicious is found, continue business
  as usual.
• Prepare Connect Ed message and student cell phone
  message that this was a precautionary measure and
  everyone is safe.
• Proceed with Threat Assessment and further
  investigations

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Tabletop 5 Right before lunch the office
receive a call saying there is a bomb planted in
a classroom.

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Searches

• School personnel are perhaps in the best
  position to scan the building for suspicious
  objects because they know when something is out
  of place. The search should only be initiated if
  this can be accomplished in a safe manner.
• . General search guidelines include
• Start on the outside of the school and work
  inward
• When inside, start at the bottom and work up
• Search personnel always work toward each other
• Listen for background noises

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Sweeps

• As staff members scan their work area, they are
  instructed
• 1) to divide the room into various search levels,
  the first sweep covers all objects resting on the
  floor or built into the walls, up to your waist
• 2) the second sweep is a scan of the room from
  your waist to chin height
• 3) the third sweep covers the room from the top
  of your head to the ceiling, including air ducts,
  window tops and light fixtures.

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Evacuation Procedures

• Evacuation is often viewed as merely moving
  students and staff out of the school as in a fire
  drill. Evacuation in response to a bomb threat
  may be much more complicated, extreme care must
  be taken to not cause panic. If panic begins, the
  potential for serious personal injury increases
  dramatically. When a device is found or the
  threat analysis indicates a high degree of risk
  is present, give the evacuation signal.When
  staff hear the evacuation signal they are to

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• When staff hear the evacuation signal they are
  to

• Conduct a rapid scan of their work area
• Collect the attendance book
• Calmly instruct students to take their valuables
  and walk to the assigned area, usually 300 feet
  from the building
• Do not allow anyone to run
• Once safe, take attendance and report search
  results and student count to your administrator
• Wait with students until the search for the bomb
  has been conducted
• Do not re-enter the building until the all clear
  signal is given

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Other factors

• In times of severe weather or a prolonged search,
  students may be moved to a
• pre-arranged re-location site
• When warranted, messengers may be announcing
  alternative exit routes or partial evacuation
  instructions. Fast, flexible action may be
  required. Students need to be trained to listen
  and follow your instructions. Familiarize
  yourself with the alternative exit route(s) that
  apply to you and stay open to the option of
  partial evacuation strategies.

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Create your own tabletop
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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

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If There is an Explosion

• Administration will 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 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 will communicate instructions to
  staff as quickly as possible.
• Custodial staff will shut off gas and electricity
  to the building if it can be done safely.
• Administration will assess what exploded, where,
  and what injuries were caused. We will 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 will
  receive evacuation instructions.

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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.

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Follow-Up

• Our school district provides Crisis Counseling
  support services for staff and students, if
  needed.
• Our school also properly reports each bomb threat
  to law enforcement and to the district.