The recent bomb threats targeting schools on the island have alerted UOG safety and security officials toward the importance of having an effective crisis management plan. David Okada, UOG’s chief planning officer, and Felix Mansapit, UOG’s safety and security administrator, discussed what would happen if there was a bomb threat on campus.

Okada and Mansapit crafted a draft incident command plan for crisis management in a form of a checklist.

The checklist includes bomb threat procedures, such as if the threat was received from a phone call, an e-mail, handwritten note, and packages that have suspicious signs. The 911 emergency hotline and the phone number for the University Security are also included on the checklist.

Each checklist has been read, handed out, and distributed to all employees within the facilities. Calling 911 or the University Security and assessing the threat is the first step. There are different levels of threat, depending on which threat falls under the checklist. It is up to the University Security or the first responder to figure out the next step once the level of the threat is issued.

“There are standard procedures for rally points and accountability for people when and if such a situation needs to be done in terms of evacuation,” Okada said.

“The university does take it seriously and if when it does happen, we are prepared to do so to respond,” Okada stated.

Okada emphasized the importance that faculty and administrators should be leading students….and guiding them toward the correct procedures to follow…should a crisis happen.

Opinions on GDOE bomb threats

Mansapit explained that the majority of the threats have been hoaxes and students are treating the threats as a reckless competition. He explained that if a student is caught some people will question if that student should be convicted as an adult would instead of a minor. When dealing with a topic like that, the people from the judicial court will have to decide what kind of punishment the student will receive.

A recent  KUAM news report by Krystal Paco stated that on Feb. 17, a Southern High School student named Herisjoe Stephen was caught, arrested and had been indicted by the grand jury with charges for conspiracy and terroristic conduct.

 

“Although perpetrators made see it as a joke, the threat of a bomb is a serious claim. But I’m glad that our security on campus took the necessary precautions to make the emergency plan to ensure safety,” said Chaunsi  Cepeda, an Accounting major of University of Guam.

“The protocol is good thanks to the guys at security,” said Christian Cayanan. “Bottom line is that the kids who started the threats deserved to be punished.