During our previous talk we discussed ballistic
and blast resistant protection for your church, and the three main types of
bullet resistant glass and how they function.
We also learned that over a 56 year period there have been approximately
44 churches in the U.S. damaged by explosives.
So it’s important that we look at how to deal with the possibility of a
bomb threat and how to search for a bomb.
If there is
one point that cannot
be overemphasized, it
is
the value of being prepared. Do not
allow a bomb incident to catch you by surprise. By developing a
bomb incident plan and considering possible bomb incidents in your physical
security plan, you can reduce
the potential
for
personal injury and property damage. In making this information
available to you, I hope to help you better prepare
to deal with bomb threats and the illegal use of explosives.
Bombs can be constructed to look like almost
anything and can be placed or delivered in any number of ways.
The probability of finding a bomb that looks like the
stereotypical bomb is
almost
nonexistent. The only common denominator that exists among bombs is that they are
designed or intended to explode.
Most bombs
are
homemade and are limited in their design only by the
imagination of, and resources available to, the
bomber. Remember,
when searching for a
bomb, suspect anything that looks unusual. Let the trained bomb technician determine what is
or is not a bomb.
Bomb threats are delivered in a
variety of ways. The
majority of threats are called in to the
target. Occasionally these
calls are through a
third party. Sometimes a threat is communicated in writing or by a recording.
One of the primary roles of the security
team is to be observant, aware of changes (either physically, or in the
atmosphere/mood) that can be a subtle indicator of danger. The best defense against terrorism and bomb
threats has been to have trained and vigilant security personnel on the
premises. Just being able to see an
alert security presence can provide a significant deterrent, and preemptively
avert disaster by not presenting an easy target.
Being prepared for an emergency is a requirement in our
modern world. Major cities tend to be
targeted more often than outlying areas due to the higher population and
greater chance of casualties. We want
our security team members trained to remain calm under extreme circumstances
where danger may be presented to themselves and the general public surrounding
them.
Bomb threats most typically take the form of anonymous
phone calls or messages, and should always be taken seriously and reported to
the authorities. You must try and take
notes of any details that might be communicated by the caller either
consciously (when and where the bomb is set to explode, why it was planted,
etc.) or subconsciously (gender, approximate age, any accents, any identifiable
noises in the background, etc.), and immediately communicate this information
to the local authorities. This
will
limit the amount of time
lost to searching, if you determine a search is necessary.
If a bomb incident occurs, proper planning will
instill confidence
in the
leadership, reinforce
the notion
that those in charge
do
care; and reduce the
potential
for
personal injury and property loss.
Proper planning can also reduce the threat of panic, the
most contagious of all human emotions. Panic is sudden, excessive, unreasoning,
infectious terror. Once a state
of
panic has been reached, the
potential
for
injury and property damage is greatly increased. In the context
of a bomb threat, panic
is
the ultimate achievement of the caller.
Be prepared!
There
is no excuse
for
not taking every step necessary to meet
the threat.
Here is an outline of the requirements for an incident plan:
Bomb
Incident Plan
1) Designate a chain of command. As in every project there must be leadership.
2) Establish a command center. Somewhere well away from the area of the bomb.
3) Decide what primary and alternate
communications will be used. Avoid two-way
radios. Their frequencies can sometimes trigger certain electronic detonators.
4) Establish clearly
how and by whom a bomb threat will be evaluated. Again, leadership
provided by trained
supervisor.
5) Decide what procedures will be followed
when a bomb threat is received or device discovered. Previously developed
policies and procedures manual can be very helpful.
6) Determine to what extent the available
bomb squad will assist and at what point the squad will respond. Is there a local bomb squad, and what their
response time is.
7) Provide an
evacuation plan with enough flexibility to avoid a suspected danger area. There must be a designated area to evacuate
too, and far enough away to avoid debris from explosion.
8) Designate search teams. Previously assigned and trained.
9) Designate areas to be searched. Based on any information hopefully provided by
“caller.”
10) Establish
techniques to be utilized during search.
11) Establish a
procedure to report and track progress of the search and a method to lead qualified
bomb technicians to a suspicious package.
12) Have a contingency
plan available if a bomb should go off.
13) Establish a
simple-to-follow procedure for the person receiving the bomb threat.
14) Review your
physical security plan in conjunction with the development of your bomb incident
plan.
If a device of suspicious origin is found, it should NOT
be touched or moved. The police and fire
department should be notified ASAP! (As Soon as Possible).
A search conducted in response to a bomb threat should be
conducted in teams of two. The search
should begin outside the building or structure unless the caller has indicated
that the device was place inside the building. The search team should begin at least
twenty-five feet from the building exterior and work inward.
1) Room Searches
An interior search should begin on the bottom floor and work
up. When
the two-person search team enters the room to be searched, they should first
move to various parts of the room and stand quietly with their eyes closed and
listen for a clockwork device.
Frequently, a clockwork mechanism can be quickly detected without use of
special equipment. Even if no clockwork mechanism
is detected, the team is now aware of the background noise level within the
room itself.
The
individual in charge of the room searching team should look around the room and
determine how the room is to be divided for searching and to what height the first
searching sweep should extend. The first
searching sweep will cover all items resting on the floor up to the selected
height.
2) First
Room-Searching Sweep
You should divide the room
into two virtually equal parts. This
equal division should be based on the number and type of objects in the room to
be searched and not on the size of the room.
An imaginary line is then drawn between two objects in the room; e.g.,
the edge of the window on the north wall to the floor lamp on the south wall.
To begin a room search, it should mentally be divided from
floor to ceiling. The first area
searched is from floor to desk height.
The next area is from desk top height to approximately six feet. The final area to be searched is from six
feet to ceiling.
After the room has been
divided and a searching height has been selected, both individuals go to one
end of the room division line and start from a back-to-back position. This is the starting point and the same point
will be used on each successive searching sweeps.
Each person now starts
searching his way around the room, working toward the other person, checking
all items resting on the floor around the wall area of the room. When the two individuals meet, they will have
completed a "wall sweep."
They should then work together
and check all items in the middle of the room up to the selected hip height,
including the floor under the rugs. This
first searching sweep should also include those items which may be mounted on
or in the walls, such as air-conditioning ducts, baseboard heaters, and built-in
wall cupboards, if these fixtures are below hip height.
3) Second
Room-Searching Sweep
The individual in charge again
looks at the furniture or objects in the room and determines the height of the
second searching sweep. This height is
usually from the hip to the chin or top of the head. The two persons return to the starting point
and repeat the searching technique at the second selected searching
height. This sweep usually covers
pictures hanging on the walls, built-in bookcases, and tall table lamps.
4) Third
Room-Searching Sweep
When the second searching
sweep is completed, the person in charge again determines the next searching
height, usually from the chin or the top of the head up to the ceiling. The third sweep is then made. This sweep usually covers high mounted
air-conditioning ducts and hanging light fixtures.
5) Fourth
Room-Searching Sweep
If the room has a false or
suspended ceiling. the fourth sweep involves investigation of this area. Check flush or ceiling-mounted light fixtures,
air-conditioning or ventilation duds, sound or speaker systems, electrical
wiring, and structural frame members.
Have a sign or marker indicating "Search
Completed" conspicuously posted in the area. Place a piece of colored Scotch tape across
the door and door jamb approximately two feet above floor level if the use of
signs is not practical.
The room searching technique can be
expanded. The same basic technique can
be applied to search any enclosed area.
Encourage the use of common sense or logic in searching.
If a guest speaker at a convention has been
threatened, common sense would indicate searching the speaker’s platform and
microphones first, but always return to the searching technique.
Do not rely on random or spot checking of only
logical target areas. The bomber may not
be a logical person.
In conclusion, the following
steps should be taken in order to search a room:
1) Divide the area and
select a search height.
2) Start from the
bottom and work up.
3) Start back-to-back
and work toward each other.
4) Go around the walls
and proceed toward the center of the room.
It is imperative that
personnel involved in a search be instructed that their only mission is to
search for and report suspicious objects.
Under no circumstances should anyone move, jar or touch a suspicious
object or anything attached to it. The removal or disarming of a
bomb must be left to the professionals in explosive ordnance disposal. When a suspicious object is discovered, the
following procedures are recommended.
1) Report the location
and an accurate description of the object to the appropriate official. This information should be relayed
immediately to the local police and fire departments, and to the command
center. These officers should be met and
escorted to the scene.
2) If absolutely
necessary, place sandbags or mattresses, never metal shields, around the
suspicious object. Do not attempt to
cover the object.
3) Identify the danger
area, and block it off with a clear zone of at least 300 feet, including floors
below and above the object.
4) Check to see that
all doors and windows are open to minimize primary damage from blast and
secondary damage from fragmentation.
5) Evacuate the
building.
6) Do not permit
re-entry into the building until the device has been removed/disarmed, and the
building declared safe for re-entry.
You can be sure that an event
like this will attract the attention of the media. It is of vital importance that all inquiries
from the news media be directed to one individual appointed as
spokesperson. All other persons should
be instructed not to discuss the situation with outsiders, especially the news
media. The purpose of this provision
is to furnish the news media with accurate information and to see that
additional bomb threat calls are not caused by careless statements from
unfamiliar sources.
This serves only as a guide
and is not intended to be anything more.
The ultimate determination of how to handle a bomb threat must be made
by the individual responsible for the threatened facility.
Develop a bomb incident
plan. Draw upon any expertise that is
available to you from and security specialists, police departments, and
government agencies. Don't leave
anything to chance. Be prepared.
Bomb threats are most commonly received via phone, but
are also made in person, via email, written note, or other means. Every bomb threat is unique and should be
handled in the context of the facility or environment in which it occurs. Facility staff and law enforcement will be in
the best position to determine the credibility of the threat.
Follow these procedures:
1) Remain calm.
2) Notify authorities immediately
3) Notify the pastor or any staff in the building,
or follow your standard operating procedure.
4) Call 9-1-1 or your local law enforcement if no
staff are available.
I have made available for anyone interested a FREE series of
forms that can be printed for your use:
1) A Do-it-Yourself Safety & Security Risk Assessment
form.
2) Church Emergency Plan Template
3) A Do-it-Yourself Bomb Threat Checklist
4) General Fire Safety Checklist
5) A Bomb Threat Distance chart for various types of
explosive devises to be referred to in the event of a bomb threat
evacuation. These are minimum distances
to evacuate away from the area of explosion.
They’re produced as Word documents so you can make any changes
necessary to fit your church size and needs. I will be adding new forms
as time allows.
For a copy of any of the Do-it-Yourself forms, or if you
have any questions, you can contact me at:
Integrity
Security Consulting
Russ
Sharrock
405-762-2471 | integrityseccon@hotmail.com
