The purpose of the Rollins College Bomb Threat Procedure is to formalize a plan that provides structure and guidance for the response to a bomb threat situation on, or in the immediate vicinity of campus. Bomb threats are made either to disrupt the normal daily operations or cause extensive damage to the target and therefore demand an immediate, coordinated response.
Definition of a Bomb Threat
Situation A bomb threat is defined as the communication through the use of mail, telephone, telegram, or other instrument of commerce; the willful making of any threat; or the malicious conveyance of false information knowing the same to be false which concerns an attempt being made, or to be made; to kill, injure, intimidate any individual; or unlawfully to damage or destroy any building, vehicle, or other real or personal property by means of an explosive.
Procedures
General Information: A bomb threat may come to the attention of the receiver in various ways. It is important to compile as much information as possible. Please DO NOT attempt to notify or evacuate an entire building as this could consume valuable time that would be better used to gather important information. Please keep in mind that the vast majority of bomb threats are false and are primarily intended to elicit a response from the building occupants. In the case of a written threat, it is vital that the document be handled by as few people as possible as this is evidence that should be turned over to the Campus Safety Department. If the threat should come via e-mail, make sure to save the information on your computer. Most bomb threats are transmitted over the telephone; thus, the following instructions will be provided with that assumption.
Immediate Action:
- Remain calm and immediately refer to the attached bomb threat checklist. If applicable, pay attention to your telephone display and record the information shown in the display window. The objective is to keep the caller on the line as long as possible to attempt to gather as much information as possible.
- Try not to anger the caller at any time. While engaging the caller, pay attention to any background noise and distinctive sounds (machinery, traffic, other voices, music, television, etc.).
- Note any characteristics of the caller’s voice (gender, age, education, accent, etc.)
- Attempt to obtain information on the location of a device (building, floor, room, etc.)
- Attempt to obtain information on the time of detonation and type of detonator
- Immediately after the caller has ended the call, notify the Campus Safety Department at (407) 646-2999 or ext. 2999.
- If possible call Campus Safety using a different phone while keeping the caller on the line. If the threat was left on your voice mail, do not erase it.
- Notify the immediate supervisor within your work area.
If an evacuation occurs all persons outside of the building should keep away from windows and other glass areas.
The decision to evacuate a College owned building should be made after a thorough evaluation of the information available, including but not limited to:
- the nature of the threat the specificity of location and time of detonation
- the circumstances related to the threat (e.g. political climate, series of events leading to the threat, etc.)
- the discovery of a device or unusual package, luggage, etc
The Director of Campus Safety may make a decision to evacuate a building without consultation if circumstances warrant such an evacuation. In the vast majority of cases, various departments throughout the College community will be notified and brought into the decision making process.
The Department of Campus Safety will notify the appropriate Winter Park emergency response groups who will organize a search team and direct the search. Other emergency units will be alerted to the threat and asked to stand by for further instructions. Persons leaving the building should report to a specified location for further instructions.
Subsequent Procedures and Information
Faculty, staff and students can be of assistance to Campus Safety in several ways. In many cases, faculty and staff members will be more familiar with their work area than the security officers that are responding. As the search is conducted, faculty and staff may be asked to identify boxes or objects in their work area. The importance of good housekeeping will be very apparent at this time.
Throughout the year, it is important to keep areas free of unnecessary debris. If a device, package, bag, etc. is discovered, the Campus Safety Department will notify Winter Park emergency services for assistance. The decision to resume normal activities in the building will be made jointly by the EOPT and/or other appropriate individuals in the College administration after police and fire personnel have deemed the affected area clear. The Campus Safety Department and police will interview the person who received the threat.
Telephone Bomb Threat Checklist
Telephone Number of Caller (check caller-ID) ________________________________________
KEEP CALM: Do not get excited or excite others.
TIME: Call received ___________a.m./p.m. Terminated __________a.m./p.m.
EXACT WORDS OF CALLER: _________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
DELAY: ASK CALLER TO REPEAT. Questions you should ask:
A. At what time is the bomb set to explode? __________________________________________
B. Where is it located? Building __________________________________ Floor________ Room ________________
C. What kind of bomb? ________________________________________________________________________
D. Description? ________________________________________________________________________
E. Why are you doing this? _______________________________________________________________________
Voice Description: ____ Male ___ Calm ___ Young ___ Educated ___ Accent ____ Female ___ Nervous ___ Old ___ Middle Aged Other Descriptors: ______________________________________________________________
Speech Impediment ___No ___Yes, Describe ____________________________________ Unusual phrases or items that were repeated _________________________________________________________________________
Do you recognize the voice? If so, who do you think it was?
________________________________________________________________________
___ Music ___ Running Motor (Type) _______________________________________
___ Traffic ___ Whistles ___ Bells
___ Horns ___ Aircraft ___ Tape Recorder
___ Machinery
___ Other _____________________________________________________________________
Additional Information:
Did caller indicate knowledge of the campus? If so, how and in what way?
_________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
On what line did the call come in?
_________________________________________________________________________
Is number listed? Yes ___ No ___ Private Number? Yes ___ No ___
Whose? _______________________________________________________________________