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Emergency Readiness

SMCCCD Home Emergency Management Emergency Readiness Suspicious Package/Mail/Email

Suspicious Package/Mail/Email

Although unlikely, receiving a suspicious and possibly life-threatening package is possible. It is important to identify the type of mail your department typically receives, and to be aware of the identifying characteristics of a possibly life-threatening item. 

Characteristics of a suspicious letter or package 

Suspicious Package Characteristics
  • Origin – Postmark doesn’t match the city of the return address, the name of sender is unusual or unknown, or no return address is given
  • Postage – Excessive or inadequate postage
  • Appearance – the letter is lopsided or has an unusually thick weight and seems heavy for its size
  • Contents – Stiffness or springiness of contents; protruding wires or components; oil or powder on outer wrapping or envelope
  • Odd smell – Particularly almond or other suspicious odors
  • Writing – Handwriting of sender is not familiar or is distorted; cut-and-paste or run-on-block letters are used; common words, names, or titles are misspelled; special instructions like “fragile,” “confidential,” or “do not delay” are present; there is a title, but no name.

 

 

 

 

Additional features of a possible mail  bomb

  • Protruding wires or aluminum foil
  • Strange odors or stains
  • An unusual or excessive amount of tape
  • Buzzing, ticking or a sloshing sound
  • Irregular shape, soft spots or bulges
  • Excessive weight for its size
  • Rigid, uneven, or lopsided appearance

If you receive a suspicious parcel or object

  • Isolate the object immediately 
  • Do not handle the object any more than is absolutely necessary 
  • Do not shake, bump, or empty the contents
  • Do not open, smell, touch, or taste the object. Treat it as dangerous
  • Do not use cellular phones or walkie-talkies within close range of the object
  • Call 9-911 from District phones (911 from non-campus phones), and provide the following information:
    • Your name and telephone number
    • Location of the object (building, floor, room number, etc)
    • Description of the object
    • Note: Do not hang up until the dispatcher advises you to do so
  • Promptly document everything you can recall about receiving or finding the object, including all individuals who were in the immediate vicinity at the time. This information will be needed by police interviewers.
  • Alert your supervisor to the situation 

If evacuation is ordered

  • Quickly make note of, but do not touch, anything unusual or out of place in your work area
  • Report any unusual details to 9-911 from District phones (911 from non-campus phones)
  • Consult the Evacuation Procedures section of this guide for additional information
  • After exiting the building, check in at the designated Evacuation Assembly Area (EAA) for your building. Report your observations, if any.