Most bomb threats that are called in are intended to disrupt normal business and activities and do not actually involve a bomb. However, every bomb threat must be considered real and must be properly investigated to ensure the safety of building occupants.
Steps to Follow
Written Bomb Threat:
- Ensure the document is handled by as few people as possible.
- Turn the document over to DPS as soon as possible.
- If the threat is received via e-mail or voice mail, save it and notify Department of Public Safety immediately
Telephoned Bomb Threat:
- Remain calm and attempt to ask a nearby person to notify DPS.
- Pay attention to the phone display, if possible, and record the information on the phone window.
- Keep the caller on the line as long as possible and attempt to gather as much information as possible.
Questions to ask include (per Federal Bureau of Investigation guidelines):
- When is the bomb going to explode?
- Where is it right now?
- What does it look like?
- What kind of bomb is it?
- What will cause it to explode?
- Did you place the bomb?
- Why did you do it?
- What is your name?
- What is your address?
Information to gather about the caller:
- The exact wording of the threat
- Sex of the caller
- Age of the caller
- Race of the caller
- Length of the call
- Date and time the call was taken
- Any additional notes
Information to note about the sounds during the call:
- Is the voice familiar, and who does it sound like?
- What best describes the caller’s voice (calm, angry, excited, slow, rapid, soft, lound, etc.)
- Were there any background noises such as street noises, animal noises, clear, static, music, house noises, motor, factory, office.
Information to gather regarding the threat language:
- Educated or well-spoken
- Incoherent
- Foul
- Irrational/threats
- Taped
- Message being read