If a telephone threat references a chemical or biological device or package, follow the Checklist for Telephone Threats and refer to safety procedures in Bomb Threat and Hazardous Materials sections.

This page addresses receiving, by mail or delivery service, a suspicious letter or package that might be a chemical or biological threat.

When sorting mail or receiving delivered packages:

• Look for characteristics that make you suspicious of the content including:

• Excessive postage, excessive weight
• Misspellings of common words
• Oily stains, discolorations, odor
• No return address or showing a city or state in the postmark that does not match the return address
• Package not anticipated by someone in the school or not sent by a known school vendor

If a letter/package is opened and contains a written threat but no suspicious substance:

• Building administrator and law enforcement should be notified.
• Isolate the people who have been exposed to the substance. The goal here is to prevent/minimize spreading contamination.
• Limit access to the area in which the letter/package was opened.
• Ask the person who discovered/opened the letter/package to place it into another container, such as a clear, plastic zip-lock bag. Handle with gloves if possible.
• Emergency officials will determine the need for decontamination of the area and the people exposed to the substance.
• Building administrator and emergency officials determine whether evacuation is necessary.
• Building administrator notifies superintendent. Notification is made to parents/guardians according to district policies.
• Implement post-crisis procedures as necessary.