NCJ Number
121473
Journal
Security Management Volume: 33 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1989) Pages: 93-96
Date Published
1989
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Security procedures to be followed in the event of a bomb threat to a company building depend upon the known elements of the threat.
Abstract
All bomb threats have a cluster of stated facts that can be broken down into "basic" and "special" elements. The basic elements are statements involving a caller, a location, and a recipient. Special elements consist of a specific floor, department, or victim; a specific time; a specific caller; and a specific reason for the call. Recipients of the threat must be interviewed precisely by security personnel to determine the pertinent elements of the threat. When all information has been obtained, a decision can be made regarding evacuation and search. The evacuation decisionmaker should be chosen before any bomb threat is received. When the threat names a specific time and place of detonation and less than 30 minutes are available for a search, evacuation without a search should be ordered immediately. The recommended time for a post-evacuation search is 1 hour after the stated detonation time. When the area is clear, employees may return to the workplace. Prior plans for an evacuation should include prior approval for the use of a nearby building to house the evacuated employees. Employees on the two floors above and the two floors beneath the alleged bomb location should be included in the evacuation. An effective public address system that can be targeted to various floors is essential for an effective evacuation.