Bomb threats or suspicious items should always be taken seriously. How quickly and safely you react to a bomb threat could save lives, including your own. What should you do?

Notify the Police at 911.

Contact the Student Life Office at 641-784-5104 and Facility Services at 641-784-5191. Do not use your cell phone.   

The State Fire Marshall’s Office recommends a minimum safe distance of 100 meters for any bomb threat. This is primarily for homemade pipe bombs and other explosives of that size. Larger explosive devices, i.e. the size of a moving truck (Oklahoma City Bombing) a minimum distance of a quarter of a mile is recommended. If a biological or chemical threat were made in conjunction with the explosive threat, evacuation of the entire city of Lamoni would not be out of the question.

Instructions for the campus community may be issued through the GU Alert.

Faculty, Staff and Student Procedures

1. All faculty, staff and students, as they evacuate the University will remove the items that they brought into class or the office with them (i.e. book bags, gym bags, electronic devices). Faculty and staff should unplug everything that is in their class room or office.
2. Windows and doors will be left open to help dissipate any explosive force.
3. All cabinets, desk, drawers, rooms and offices will be left unlocked to make it easier for the searchers for when the school is searched and cleared.
4. When evacuation of a building is accomplished, only authorized personnel are permitted entry until the threat is resolved.
5. Personnel evacuated from the University grounds will remove themselves a minimum of 100 meters from the University buildings, possibly more depending on the threat that was made and what if any explosive material is located.
6. The heads of each department will be accountable for their staff. The Office of Residence Life with the Residence Hall Directors will ensure that University Housing facilities are evacuated.

Things That Should Not Be Done:

1. DO NOT key hand held radios and transmit.
2. DO NOT handle any explosive device or suspected explosive device or suspicious packages.
3. DO NOT allow anyone, faculty, staff or student access to or near the proximity of the explosive device.
4. DO NOT try to move the explosive device or enclose it to minimize effects of an explosion.
5. DO NOT use cellular telephones.
6. DO NOT pull the fire alarms to evacuate any buildings.
7. If an explosive device is inside of a container DO NOT open the container.

Any one of the above events could trigger an explosive device.

Please see media page for information about media coverage of an emergency event.