Telephone Threat
When a bomb threat is made over the telephone, obtain the following information from the caller (write everything down):
- Exact location of the device.
- Time set for explosion;
- Description of the device;
- Reason the caller has placed the bomb;
- Exact words used by the caller.
- Background noises;
- Keep this information as confidential as possible.
- Notify the Police Department. Call 911.
- Notify the Building Management Office at (808) 521-6022 and/or Building Security at (808) 521-9803.
Once the Building Management Office and/or Building Security have been notified of a bomb threat, it is our policy to advise your firm’s manager or senior officer. It is up to the manager or senior officer to decide whether it is appropriate to evacuate the office.
As part of the procedure, the Honolulu Police Department, Bomb Squad, is called and the Police normally only make a visual inspection of the location designated by the person claiming to have planted a bomb, without any technical equipment or trained dogs. Although we may receive a clearance from the Police, we are never certain that a bomb may have in fact been planted and not found by the Police. Therefore, please keep such a risk in mind when you decide to re-enter the building after the clearance by the Police.
Building Management will immediately call the police and have them dispatched to the building. Building Management will advise Security (if they did not receive the call) to ensure that all entrances to the building are closed so no additional people can enter the building. Security will post personnel in the lobby to keep traffic (pedestrian and auto) moving and away from the building.
If the bomb is not claimed to be in any specific area in the building, building management will advise all tenants via the building fire alarm paging system that a bomb threat has been called in to the building. Concurrently, Building Management will dispatch Property Managers and/or staff to each floor to advise you of the bomb threat.
If the bomb is claimed to be in a specific location of the building, the immediately affected area will be notified first, (i.e., if the bomb is said to be in the parking garage, the first eight floors of the building will be notified first, followed by all other floors).
In the event that you are asked to evacuate the Building, we recommend that all people evacuate to the Iolani Place grounds. Tenants are asked to go down to the building lobby and exit through the side door, keeping the building lobby clear. In the event that a bomb is detonated, the blast would create considerable havoc along King and Alakea Streets and if you are standing in these areas, you may be subject to injury.
In the meantime, the Police will inspect all floors or the subject floors where the bomb is said to be placed and will provide us with their findings.
We will advise you of the findings of the Police and if no bomb has been discovered, re-entry into the building should then be commenced.
In the event a bomb is located, the building will remain evacuated until otherwise advised.
Click here for Bomb Threat Phone Checklist (opens in new window)
Suspicious Packages or Mail Bombs
Letter bombs are usually sent through the mail addressed to a specific individual in the company, usually disguised to look like some sort of gift or a small package. Letter bombs have the power to kill or seriously maim anyone in close proximity. Letter bombs are usually contained within a large size manila envelope 1/4” to 1/2” thick and are fairly rigid.
However, the technology used in letter bombs has become increasingly sophisticated and can be difficult to detect visually. Letter bombs have been mailed from cities or small towns in the United States, as well as from foreign countries. Be especially wary of letters that are mailed to titles -- Chairman, President, Manager, Security Officer, etc. - rather than directly to named individuals.
If you suspect a parcel contains a letter bomb:
- Clear everyone out of the immediate area; establish at least a 25-foot radius around the package.
- Notify the police at 911 and Building Management.
- DO NOT HANDLE IT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
- DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DEACTIVATE IT YOURSELF.
