Emergency Management & Response

RESPONSE TO A HOSTILE INTRUDER

  • Occupants should escape the building or area immediately through exits or windows if it is safe to do so upon learning a hostile situation is occurring in the building.
  • When exiting the building, keep your hands up with open palms so responding officers can see that you do not have a weapon.
  • Call 911 when you reach a safe location and describe what you saw or heard in detail.
  • If it is not safe to escape, secure yourself in a room and do your best to lock or barricade entry ways – call 911 to report what you know about the situation if possible, and prepare yourself and others in the room to confront the intruder if they enter your room.
  • Wait for further instructions from emergency responders.
  • Do not try to overtake the shooter or hostile person unless they have entered your safe area.
  • If the suspect enters your safe area, attempt to do the following:
    • Scream and throw objects at the suspect
    • Flee the area and run far away from the danger
    • Do not make yourself an easy target – avoid sitting still or ducking behind something that will not conceal you or protect you from attack
    • If you feel subduing the intruder is your best option, swarm the person using your body weight to take them to the ground and control them until police arrive
    • Do not handle the suspect’s weapon – keep it away from the suspect and secure it under something in the room like a trash can or box
    • Call 911 and notify the police

RESPONSE TO A SUSPICIOUS OBJECT OR PACKAGE

  • Do not continue to touch or disturb the object or package.
  • Leave the object and vacate the room.  If others are in the affected room or area, inform them of the situation and ask them to vacate the space as well.
  • Call 911 and describe the package in detail.
  • Follow the instructions of the dispatcher.
  • Wash hands if you have handled the object or package.

Signs of a suspicious package:

  • No return address
  • Poorly handwritten
  • Excessive postage
  • Misspelled words
  • Stains
  • Incorrect titles
  • Strange odor
  • Foreign postage
  • Strange sounds
  • Restrictive notes
  • Unexpected delivery

RESPONSE TO A BOMB THREAT

Remain calm.  Most bomb threats are false, but they should be taken seriously and need to be reported to the Police immediately.

Most bomb threats are received by phone. Bomb threats are serious until proven otherwise. Act quickly but remain calm and obtain information with the checklist on the reverse of this card.

If a bomb threat is received by phone:

  • Remain calm. Keep the caller on the line for as long as possible.
  • Listen carefully. Be polite and show interest.
  • Try to keep the caller talking to learn more information.
  • If possible, write a note to a colleague to contact 911 while you are talking to the caller.
  • If your phone has a display, copy the number and/or letters on the window display.
  • Write down as much detail as you can remember. Try to get exact words.
  • Immediately upon termination of the call 911 with information and await instructions.
  • Police will assess the need to evacuate based on the information you provide them.

If the threat is called in, asking specific questions of the caller and paying close attention to what the caller says is of the utmost importance.

  • When will the bomb explode?
  • Where is the bomb now?
  • What does the bomb look like?
  • Why did you place the bomb?

Descriptive information about the perpetrator should also be obtained:

  • Perception of the gender and age of the caller
  • Speech patterns or irregularities
  • Background noises
  • Time of call

If a bomb threat is received by handwritten note:

  • Call 911.
  • Handle note as minimally as possible.

If a bomb threat is received by email:

  • Call 911.
  • Do not delete the message.

DO NOT:

  • Use two-way radios or cellular phone; radio signals have the potential to detonate a bomb.
  • Evacuate the building unless police instruct you to do so after evaluating the threat.
  • Activate the fire alarm.
  • Touch or move a suspicious package.