2.   Bomb Threats

a. Handling Suspected or Actual Bomb Incidents

Upon receiving a bomb threat (phone, verbal, letter, etc.), the recipient shall notify the Office of Public Safety who will then notify the Emergency Coordinator immediately.  The Office of Public Safety will contact local law enforcement of the situation and coordinate their response to the situation.

b. Evacuation, Search, and Re-entry Authority

It will be the recommendation of the Office of Public Safety, law enforcement, fire department, and/or Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology administration, in concert or independently of each other that will influence final decisions which pertain to building search, evacuations, and or re-entry into Institute buildings.

Therefore, they will be responsible for evaluation of the threat and recommendation of one of the following:

-          take no action

-          search without evacuation

-          evacuate (and search).

The nature and extent of a search and evacuation operation will depend on the evaluation of the threat and time and resources available.

Should a decision be made to search and/or evacuate a threatened area, consideration based on the following conditions should be applied.

-          All community members within the threatened area must evacuate during "Mandatory Evacuation".

-          During "Voluntary Evacuation" community members may make the decision to evacuate or not on their own.

-          The safe location and/or potential re-location of community members in relation to the threatened area must be considered.

c. During Search and Evacuation

-          During "Mandatory Evacuation" the Office of Public Safety will initiate an immediate lock down of the threatened area to prevent individuals from entering or re-entering the building during this critical time.

-          "Safe Distance for Evacuation" and relocation of affected community members is 1000' feet in any direction from the threatened area.

Search responsibility will rest with Rose-Hulman Public Safety and Facilities Operations personnel in conjunction with Local Law Enforcement and the Fire Department.  Governmental agencies recommend that individuals familiar with daily activity within the threatened area be used to conduct a building search.  These individuals are familiar with the buildings presence, as well as, habits of the occupants on a daily basis which expedites search capabilities.

Public Areas - Experience has shown that bombs are often placed near exits, entrances, closets, or near public areas, rest rooms, building exteriors, foyers, landscapes, and in trash cans.  Inspect public areas first.  Identify alternate evacuation routes.

-          Faculty should make visual inspections of their classrooms and report anything suspicious or unusual.  Do not touch anything suspicious.

-          Faculty will be responsible for students within their areas at the time of evacuation.

-          Faculty will take roll call at the designated evacuation holding area.

-          Do Not Evacuate To Parking Lots. Vehicular bombs are very common.

d. Improvised Explosive Devices, Pipe Bombs and Package Devices

Upon locating one of the above:

-          Do not touch or attempt to remove it.

-          Keep everyone away from its location.

-          Immediately contact Public Safety at (812) 877-8590

-          Approach the device very carefully.

-          Immediately evacuate the area.

-          Never try to de-activate a device.

e.  Refer to Appendix F & I