Bomb Threats & Suspicious Packages
Most bomb threats are received by phone. Bomb threats are serious until proven otherwise. Act quickly but remain calm and obtain information with the checklist on this page.
How To Handle A Bomb Threat
Receiving a bomb threat can be scary. Here are some tips on what you can do to handle a bomb threat depending on the method it was received.
- By Phone
- Remain calm. Keep the caller on the line for as long as possible. DO NOT HANG UP, even if the caller does.
- Listen carefully. Be polite and show interest.
- Try to keep the caller talking to learn more information.
- If possible, write a note to a colleague to call the authorities or, as soon as the caller hangs up, immediately notify them yourself.
- If your phone has a display, copy the number and/or letters on the window display.
- Complete the Bomb Threat Checklist / Report Form and write down as much detail as you can remember. Try to get exact words.
- Immediately upon termination of the call, do not hang up, but from a different phone, contact Campus Safety or Police department with the information and await instructions.
- By Handwritten Note
- Call the Department of Campus Safety: 559-791-2440
- Handle note as minimally as possible.
- By Email
- Call the Department of Campus Safety: 559-791-2440
- Do not delete the message.
- By Suspicious Package
Some indications of a suspicious package are when there is/are:
- No return address
- Excessive postage
- Poor handwriting or misspelled words
- Incorrect titles
- Foreign postage
- Restrictive notes
- Stains
- Strange odor
- Strange sounds
- Unexpected delivery
Do not use two-way radios or cell phones. Radio signals have the potential to detonate a bomb. Do not activate the fire alarm. Do not touch or move a suspicious package.
PC Campus Safety Officers are ever watchful of potentially dangerous situations. In the unlikely event that someone threatens to bring explosives to campus, or if you find a suspicious package that might contain chemical, explosive, or biological weapons, emergency personnel will promptly respond to your call and let you know what to do next.
While you might want to contact friends or family, it's best to turn off cell phones so there isn't any interference with our attempts to monitor the situation. Also, as you evacuate, bring your personal belongings with you and try to notice any other unfamiliar or suspicious items. You can report them to us, and we'll decide how to handle them. Because someone might have tampered with building wiring, it's safest to leave light switches and thermostats at their current settings and to leave windows and doors open. Do your best to follow these suggestions while actively listening for directives from emergency personnel.
How do I know what makes a package or letter “suspicious”? And what should you do?
Sometimes a person will make a telephone or email threat prior to leaving a package, regardless of that, please contact Campus Safety at 559-791-2440 as soon as that happens. Some suspicious-looking packages are not actually weapons or look humorous because of how they are addressed or marked— but it's still important to take them seriously. Here's an example of what one might look like:
- No return address
- Restrictive markings, i.e. "Personal!"
- Oily stains, discolorations, or crystallization on wrapper
- Strange odor
- Excessive tape
- Envelope sealed with tape
- Address errors
- Misspelled words
- Addressed to title only
- Incorrect title
- Badly typed or written
- Excessive postage
- Lopsided or uneven
- Rigid or bulky
So, if you see one, be careful to avoid touching it and encourage others in the area to do the same. Although you might want to sniff, smell, or shake the package to see what's in it, please do not do so as it is safer to wait for us to investigate. If you can, calmly encourage others to leave the area as soon as possible and notify Campus Safety at 559-791-2440.
What if you have already opened the package?
Since it might contain dangerous powders or agents, be sure to wash your hands before touching anything else, and you don't need to clean up anything that might have spilled out. Our goal is to protect you while minimizing contamination—so you can help by staying nearby and letting us know who else was in the area when you found the package. We'll take care of the rest.
What makes a backpack, duffel bag, laptop case, etc. suspicious?
If the item is laying unattended and or it seems out of place, please contact Campus Safety. An officer will respond to determine if there is any threat, If it is determined there is no threat, the officer will take the item for safe keeping and attempt to locate the owner. If for whatever reason the officers determine there might possibly be a threat, the area will be evacuated and the Porterville Police Department will be contacted to respond and examine the item.
What if someone makes a phone threat about an explosive device or a weapon?
If you can record the live call, that would be most helpful. Otherwise, signal to nearby faculty or staff that a threat is occurring, and try to write down what the caller tells you.
Here are some steps you can take:
- Write down exactly what the caller says—if possible, ask him or her to repeat the information.
- Try to keep the caller speaking with you by asking questions.
- For instance, try asking where the device or the person is. Calmly let the caller know that many people could be harmed; it's possible that the person is calling because he or she doesn't actually want to follow through with this threat.
- As you listen, do you notice any background noises like other voices, cars, freeways, or music? Is there anything distinct about the caller's voice or the way the person speaks? Is his or her tone calm or angry?
- Even if the caller hangs up, keep your end of the call active or press “hold.” Cell phones might automatically disconnect, and that's okay, just take note of when the call ended and how long it lasted.
What if you find an emailed threat?
Treat it as a genuine threat, even if it seems like it might be a joke, or you are not sure what the person's intent is.
These can be frightening, especially since they could be from someone on campus or across the world. Fortunately, we can help. With assistance from PC IT Services and the Porterville Police Department we can trace emails or identify server logs to see how a message was handled.
So, if you find an emailed, social media, or otherwise digital threat, just keep it accessible on your screen. Then call Campus Safety at 559-791-2440 so we can record all the important information.
Sometimes a threat is written on paper, in a restroom, or on a wall.
These might have useful fingerprints or other evidence, so it's best to avoid touching them. Instead, immediately call Campus Safety at 559-791-2440 Try to take note of where and when you found the threat and whether you noticed anything else unusual about the people or area nearby. While you might desire to notify other people in the area, we can handle that, so others aren't unnecessarily frightened. However, if you ever suspect that your life or others' lives are in danger, call Campus Safety at 559-791-2440 or 911 for local police and emergency services.
Do Not Hesitate to Make Notification!
Be sure to call Campus Safety at 559-791-2440 to share your notes and observations with us; this will help us to coordinate with the local Police Agencies and Fire Department. We also understand that you will want to tell other classmates or friends on campus about what happened or post information on social media, but it's safest for everyone if you allow us notify others.
Our goal is to keep everyone safe and to do this we need to avoid causing panic.
