Emergency Procedures: Bomb Threat
TELEPHONE THREAT
- Remain calm
- Do not hang up; keep the caller on the line as long as possible, and listen carefully
- Obtain as much information as possible
- Use the bomb threat checklist
Ask questions such as:
- When is the bomb going to explode?
- Where is the bomb right now?
- What kind of bomb is it?
- What does it look like?
- What will cause it to explode?
- Why did you place the bomb?
- What's your name?
Take notes about the call, such as:
- Identity: Male, female, age
- Voice: Loud, soft, high-pitched, deep, raspy, hoarse, nasal, pleasant
- Background noise: Office, factory, street, traffic, train, airplane, animals, party, music
- Speech: Accented, deliberate, fast, slow, lisp, slang, taped/recorded, stuttered, slurred
- Manner: Calm, angry, rational, irrational, coherent, incoherent
- Time of call
- Exact words
- Phone number (Caller ID)
- Any other pertinent information
Call, or have someone else call, USC Police at 911
- State your location and report the information you noted
- If unable to speak to the police dispatcher, call 911 and leave the line open to allow the dispatcher to listen in on the conversation
WRITTEN THREAT
- Call USC Police at 911 (emergency) or 803-777-4215 (non-emergency) depending on the situation
- State your location and report the information in the written threat
- Stay on the phone until released by the dispatcher
- Don't touch or move the letter; it should NOT be altered or destroyed
- Preserve the scene for USC Police
- Prevent others from handling or going near the letter