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Emergencies

Suspicious Mail

Identifying a Suspicious Package

A suspicious letter or parcel might have some of the following indicators:

  • Origin - Postmark or name of sender is unusual, unknown, or no further address is given.
  • Postage - Excessive or inadequate postage.
  • Balance - The letter is lopsided or unusually thick.
  • Weight - The letter or package seems heavy for its size.
  • Contents - Stiffness or springiness of contents: protruding wires or components: oily outer wrapping or envelope: feels like it contains powdery substance. (When checking, do not bed excessively.)
  • Smell - Particularly almond or other suspicious odors.
  • Writing - Handwriting of sender is not familiar or indicates a foreign style not normally received by recipient. Common words or names are misspelled.
  • Rub-on block lettering.

Handling a Suspicious Package

  • Do not excessively handle or open a suspicious package.
  • Immediately segregate it in an unused room or space.
  • Attempt to verify the sender and/or the legitimacy of the package (i.e. ask the recipient if he/she was expecting a package that matched the suspect package's size and shape.)
  • If the letter or parcel remains suspect, call the police (dial 911) and notify Property Management.

Incident Response Protocol for Suspect Hazardous Release

  • Contain the material to minimize the impacted area:
  • Contain the material to minimize the number of individuals exposed:
  • Contain the potential impacted individuals to ensure that they receive proper medical attention:
  • Remove non-impacted individuals from the area as quickly as possible:
  • Maintain control of all potentially impact materials.

NOTIFICATION:

  • Notify your supervisor.
  • Notify Local Emergency Response Authorities. Dial 911.
  • Notify Property Management. Dial (609) 631-8915.

CONTAINMENT:

  • If material is released, impacted or potentially impacted individuals should move from immediate are to adjacent control area.
  • Minimize activities until appropriate response staff arrives. If absolutely necessary, move impacted individuals into nearest bathroom facility on floor.
  • Non-impacted individuals on the impacted floor should be evacuated, and await further instructions from response team and Property Management.
  • Property Management should immediately shut off the HVAC system for impacted and adjacent areas, and bathrooms.
  • Isolate impacted area(s), e.g. shut door during exit. Do not allow any unprotected personnel into the impacted area.
  • Retain all impacted material for response team.

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