A Secure Campus

Vice President for Safety and Security Darrell Darnell discusses recent bomb threats at universities and what to do if one is received on campus.

September 24, 2012

Alt Text

Universities across the country, including UCLA, the University of Texas and LSU, have received bomb threats in the past few weeks. While none of the threats materialized, they caused evacuations and disrupted campus life.

George Washington Today talked to Darrell Darnell, vice president for safety and security, about the threats, the procedures in place if the university receives one and how community members can be prepared.

Q: Why do you think we've seen so many bomb threats on university campuses recently?
A: At this point there is not enough information to determine the cause or if the threats are linked in any way. It will probably take some time to sort out if there is a link to any specific incident or situation that precipitated the threats or if the threats are connected. Hopefully, as law enforcement and public safety agencies begin to investigate the threats and share information we will gain a better understanding of why the threats were made.

Q: Has the university received any bomb threats?
A: We do not have any reports of bomb threats made to any of our campuses or satellite offices.

Q: What procedures are in place if the university does receive a bomb threat?
A: We have a plan in place to take appropriate action and quickly communicate to the GW community in the event a credible threat is made against the university. But I would also encourage everyone within the university community to become familiar with the Emergency Response Handbook. The handbook provides information and instructions on what people should do in the event there is a reported bomb threat to the campus or if they see a suspicious package or observe suspicious behavior. The handbook can be viewed and downloaded from our Campus Advisories website.

Q: How do you determine if a bomb threat is credible?
A:  There are a number of factors that go into making a determination as to whether a threat is credible, and the review and study of previous incidents provides law enforcement and safety and security officials with a reasonable template to follow to make a determination. However, each situation has its own unique characteristics and we would take those into consideration as well in making a determination.

Q: Under what circumstances would the campus be evacuated?
A: Each incident and situation is different and if faced with a decision as to whether to evacuate the campus we will assess the credibility of the threat and other relevant factors and information at our disposal and make a decision based upon the best available information at the time of the incident.

Q: How should community members react if they hear of a bomb threat or see a suspicious package?
A: Remain as calm as you can, obtain as much information as possible from the caller and report the threat immediately to GWPD at 202-994-6111 or call 911. Be sure to note the following:

  • Precise time of the call
  • Caller’s exact words
  • Noticeable characteristics of the caller (gender, approximate age, calm, angry, excited in disposition, etc.)
  • Information regarding the device and possible location
  • Background sounds (voices, street noises, music, etc.)
  • Threat language (well spoken, taped, irrational, foul, incoherent, etc.)

Ask the person questions such as:

  • Where is the bomb located?
  • When will the bomb explode?
  • What does the bomb look like?
  • What kind of bomb is it?
  • What will cause it to explode?

If you see a suspicious package or unusual mail do not touch or open the item. Leave the area, close the doors behind you and call GWPD at 202-994-6111 or 911 and provide a detailed description of the item and location.

Q: What else can community members do to be prepared in the event of a bomb threat or other emergency on campus?
A:  I would encourage everyone to sign up for GWAlert and provide us with their mobile device information so that we can send emergency text messages to them. During an emergency or any incident involving a credible threat, we will notify and inform the community on what actions to take using GWAlert text and email messaging. These alerts will also go out over social media as well. So it is critical that we have up-to-date information regarding mobile devices. The GW community can sign up for the alerts by logging on to Banner.