If you suspect a bomb:

If you suspect a biohazard or chemical material:

  • Do not touch or smell.
  • Keep others away.
  • Call 9-911 immediately.

If item is suspicious but threat is unknown:

  • Isolate the suspicious item.
  • Report the item to your supervisor.
  • Attempt to confirm the contents without opening.
  • Contact the addressee, if identified.
  • Contact the sender, if practical.
  • Contact the local police at 585-2113. If they are unable to respond, follow their verbal instructions.
  • Notify members of local Emergency Response Team by dialing 9.911.

If you find an opened suspicious package:

  • Do not touch the package.
  • Report the package to your supervisor.
  • Secure the area and do not allow entry.
  • Call 9.911 and advise them of the package.
  • Any employee who had direct contact with package should wash her/his exposed skin with soap and water.
  • Wait for emergency responders to arrive and follow their directions.
  • Advise emergency responders information on who was in the area around the time the suspicious package was discovered.

Characteristics of suspicious packages and envelopes:

  • Have a powdery substance on the outside.
  • Are unexpected or from someone unfamiliar to you.
  • Have excessive postage, handwritten or poorly typed addresses, incorrect titles with names, or misspellings of common words.
  • Are addressed to someone no longer with your organization or are outdated.
  • Have no return address or have ones that cannot be verified as legitimate.
  • Are of unusual weight, given their size, or are lopsided or oddly shaped.
  • Have an unusual amount of tape, string, or other wrapping material on them.
  • Are marked with restrictive endorsements, such as "Fragile" or "Personal" and "Confidential" or "Rush-Do-Not-Delay."
  • Have strange odors or stains.
  • Appear to contain electrical wire or tin foil.
  • Addresses not consistent with postmarks.

For Suspicious Packages Dial: 9.911