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Bomb threats: evacuation and emergency rules

Emergency numbers differ by country. This page uses 911, the number for the United States and Canada. Many other countries use 112, 999, or another number. Find the number for your country.

Bomb threats must be taken seriously until law enforcement and explosive disposal teams evaluate the threat. Calm, structured evacuation saves lives.

Do this now

  1. If you receive a bomb threat by phone: keep the caller on the line as long as possible, write down exact words, and note caller background sounds.
  2. Call your local emergency number (911 in the United States, 112 in Europe, 999 in the United Kingdom) immediately.
  3. Evacuate the building calmly using stairs, not elevators.
  4. Move at least 100 meters (300 feet) away from the building.
  5. Do not touch or move any suspicious package or unattended item.

Bomb threat telephone checklist

If you receive a phone call threat:

  • Keep caller on the line: Ask "Where is the bomb located?", "When is it set to explode?", "What does it look like?", and "Why are you doing this?"
  • Note caller details: Is the voice male or female? Does the caller sound young or old? Is there an accent? Are they calm or excited?
  • Listen for background noise: Street traffic, train whistles, music, machinery, or office sounds.
  • Signal a coworker: Write a note to a colleague to call police on another line while you keep the caller talking.

Evacuation and scene safety

  • Leave doors open as you evacuate to assist air ventilation.
  • Do not pull the fire alarm unless instructed by facility emergency plans, as fire alarms can cause crowd surges into hallways.
  • Avoid using two-way radios or cellular phones near suspected explosive devices, as radio signals can potentially trigger certain detonators.
  • Move to designated outdoor evacuation assembly areas upwind from the building.

... note "Homeland security guidance" Follow official bomb threat protocols published by national law enforcement agencies (such as the FBI and DHS in the United States or National Counter Terrorism Security Office in the UK).