Bomb Threat

Immediate Action Plan

  1. Remain calm and keep the caller on the line.
  2. Take detailed notes of the call; paying attention to time, wording and location. If possible, use the provided Bomb Threat Checklist located on the following page
  3. Notify OTC Safety & Security:
    Springfield Campus, Branson Center and Waynesville Center (417) 447-6911
    Richwood Valley Campus (417) 447-7860
    Lebanon Center (417)343-1430

Detailed Information

Unless directed to do so by the fire marshal, the College Chancellor or his/her designee, buildings should not be evacuated under normal circumstances.  Evacuations are typically disorderly, may cause panic and could possibly establish conditions for even greater personal threats (i.e. larger car bombs) and exposures.

If evacuation of a building is necessary, Safety & Security Officers shall inform the people in the building or area to be evacuated, of the designated assembly area.  Assembly areas should not be occupied parking lots, since secondary explosive devices could be in vehicles on the parking lots; large grass areas or empty parking are more suitable.  Designated assembly areas will be determined at the time of evacuation by Safety & Security personnel and the fire marshal. This is to avoid conflicts of usage and possible ambush plots.

During possible building evacuation, instructors, students, staff members and visitors should take their personal belongings with them.  This aids in the search and locations of suspicious items in the building.  Additionally, instructors and staff should try and take notice of anything suspicious in their classroom or work area and inform Safety & Security.

If a bomb or suspicious object is located, don’t touch or disturb it; mark the location if possible and notify OTC Safety & Security. A decision will then be made as to whether to evacuate a building or area by approved personnel.

If no suspicious object or bomb is discovered after a thorough search of a building or of the campus, people assigned to the call will return to normal duties on normal radio channels.

Bomb Threat Checklist

Call Taker’s Telephone Procedures for Bomb Threats
DATE:             /            /            TIME RECEIVED:                 AM/PM              CONCLUDED:                AM/PM
REMAIN CALM, BE COURTEOU, LISTEN TO  AND DO NOT INTERRUPT THE CALLER
GET ATTENTION OF ANOTHER PERSON —  GIVE NOTE SAYING “CALL SPRINGFIELD PD  –  BOMB THREAT”
IF YOUR PHONE HAS CALLER ID DISPLAY, RECORD NUMBER OF INCOMING CALL: ____________
WRITE DOWN EXACT WORDS OF THE CALLER AND THREAT
DON’T HANG UP THE PHONE.  LEAVE THE LINE OPEN
NOTIFY A SUPERVISOR
TRY TO KEEP THE CALLER ON THE PHONE AND TALKING BY ASKING THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
1. WHEN WILL IT EXPLODE? AT WHAT TIME?_________________________________________________
2. WHERE IS IT LOCATED? WHAT FLOOR?  ROOM?____________________________________________
3. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?_____________________________________________________________
4. WHAT KIND OF BOMB IS IT?____________________________________________________________
5. WHAT WILL SET IT OFF?________________________________________________________________
6. WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?____________________________________________________________
7. WHO ARE YOU?______________________________________________________________________
8. ARE YOU AWARE THAT IT COULD KILL OR INJURE INNOCENT PEOPLE IN ADDITION TO THOSE YOU INTEND TO HURT?______________________________________________________________________
DESCRIPTION OF CALLER (check all that apply)
Sex:       Male______    Female______    Unknown______      Approximate Age______

Voice Speech Language Behavior Background Noises
Clean Accented Educated Agitated Airport
Distorted Deliberate Foreign Angry Animals
Loud Distinct Foul Blaming Baby
Muffled Fast Intelligent Calm Birds
Nasal Hesitant Irrational Fearful General Noise
Pitch-High Lisp Rational Laughing Guns Firing
Pitch-Med Slow Slang Nervous Gymnasium
Pitch-Low Slurred Uneducated Righteous Machinery
Pleasant Stuttered Unintelligible Other: Music
Raspy If Accented, If Foreign,  Party
Smooth Describe: Describe:  Quiet
Soft    Restaurant
Squeaky    Talking
Unclear    Tavern/Bar
Other    Television
Traffic
Train
Typing
Water/Wind
Other:
Name of Person Receiving Call:___________________________________________________________
Phone Number Threat Was Received On:____________________________________________________