It has been proven that a majority of bomb threats are false alarms, meant only to disrupt or disturb the normal work of a person or company. However, at no time should any call be regarded as just another false alarm. The following suggestions can be useful.
When a call is received, there are several things to consider:
- Try to be calm. Do not interrupt the caller.
- If possible, notify supervisor/security by prearranged signal while the caller is still on the line.
- Pretend difficulty with hearing to keep caller talking.
- Obtain as much information as possible (Refer to Bomb Threat Checklist on the next page).
- Tell the caller the building is occupied and it might cause the injury or death of innocent people.
- Listen for background noises that might help determine the caller’s location.
- At the conclusion of the call, immediately go to another phone and notify the Police by dialing 9-1-1. Then notify Building Management at 770-232-6080 with all the information that you were able to gather. Keep good notes.
- Do not use the phone where the call was received in case authorities can activate a call return feature to determine where the call was originated.
- The decision to evacuate the building will be made by each individual department head or supervisor, and may be superseded by the Fire Department.
- Employees should be asked to look around their workspace as they prepare to evacuate and report any unusual objects to emergency personnel. You will want to look for ordinary objects in unusual places (i.e. a lunch bag in the hallway or stairway). If such an object is found, DO NOT DISTURB IT! Report the location of the object to the Fire Department or other authorities in charge and continue to evacuate your area.
- If evacuation is necessary, instructions will be verbal via Fire Wardens and the Fire Department. Evacuation routes may be modified depending on the specific incident.
- Identify and give priority to the movement or evacuation of children; nervous, emotional, or ill individuals; and/or the impaired. Always keep a current list of personnel who occupy the building.
- Keep all written records and notes with you for analysis by the Police Department.
Handling of Suspected Bombs
A bomb could be any size or shape, or hidden from view. However, a bomb may often be disguised as a normal object in an abnormal location (such as a lunch bag in a stairwell or a milk carton in a common corridor).
- DO NOT TOUCH OR MOVE THE SUSPECTED BOMB.
- Do not use radio equipment to transmit messages.
- Do not change lighting conditions.
- Do not smoke.
- Do not accept the contents of any container to be bonafide, simply because it was delivered by routine means.
- Do not accept container marking and/or appearance as sole evidence of the contents’ identity and legitimacy.
- Do not shake, shock or jar a suspected bomb.
- Do not cover a suspected bomb.
- Do not carry a suspected bomb.
- Do not assume that a suspected bomb is of a specific high explosive or reactionary type.
- Do not open any suspicious container or object.
- Do not cut a string, cord, or wire on a suspicious container or object.
- Do not cut or remove the wrapper on a suspicious container.
- Do not unscrew the cover on a suspicious container or object.
- Do not raise or remove the cover of a suspicious container or bottle.
- Do not move the latch or hook on the cover of a suspicious container.
- Do not change the position of a suspicious container.
- Do not place the suspicious container or object in water.
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