Bomb Scare or Something Else ?

Well folks... something kinda weird and too close
for comfort happend in my home town yesterday evening.

I was woken last night while laying
in bed and all of a sudden my boyfriend asks if I heard that.
He says "I think I heard an explosion." It was around 9ish at
night. I was just coming awake and said No I don't think I heard
anything ?

Sure enough... I check the news and it reports that since around
5-6 pm a shopping center near by had been closed off because
a suspscious package was found.

On Sunday, the Newport News bomb squad detonated a safe
found in the Hampton Woods Plaza Shopping Center. Hampton
police and fire rescue crews with the bomb squad were called
to investigate a suspicious item, which turned out to be a safe.

Because they couldn’t determine what was inside (or they were
just bored), the bomb squad blew it up.

article

So this got me to thinking about several things.

1) Why in today's day and age could they not tell what
was inside ? I know the technology exists for this.
I went searching on the web and found that it in fact does
exist. Did the news agency report this incorrectly ?

article

2) I have no plan of action in place for this type of event !
Where this bomb was found was very close to two gas stations.
If it had exploded I imagine it could have caused alot of damage
and destruction. I would of been left not knowing what to do.
What if it had been much worse and I would of needed to evacuate
quickly.


This is scary and way too close for comfort !
I am so glad it turned out to be nothing, however
I am still extremely suspicious of the fact that it was left in the
first place. I can't believe someone would be stupid enough to
leave something like that behind by accident ?
I wonder what was really in the case ?

Are we not being told what was really in the case, b/c perhaps
further investigation is on going ? Could it have been a drug drop ?
A case full of drugs or money ? The situation just reeks of strangeness
to me.

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leolady

reply to post by leolady


I know the technology exists but I think for reasons of simplicity and speed they blow it up.
Sometimes it takes hours to get the right gear to the right spot. It might be an expensive item that several counties share when needed.

They probably just needed to get there patrols back on other issues at hand, as quickly as possible. And lets face it anyone, especially the bomb squad, can blow things up, it's easy as pie!

As for what was in the case I think you can look at the discovery evidence after it's written up by the police.
I think. . .

I think maybe they just don't have the right equipment.

It exists, but that does not mean they have it.
Funding and necessity...

I'm sure places like New York City have stuff like that, but the smaller cities and towns probably can't afford it.

It happens a lot where people think such a scenario happens when in fact it happens somewhere else and can be quite worrisome knowing ahead of time.

reply to post by AnteBellum

It might be an expensive item that several counties share when needed.

Yes. The bomb squad from our neighboring city was pulled in. They are the squad for our area.
They are extremely close together, the two towns. The event started in between 5-6 pm and they
did not detonate it until 9pm ish. 3 whole hours later.



reply to post by Darkblade71

I'm sure places like New York City have stuff like that, but the smaller cities and towns probably can't afford it.

As noted above, our neighboring city does have a specialized Bomb Squad with a special vehicle.
We are somewhat more prepared than a really small town.

Bomb Squad

Newport News Fire Department Bomb Squad

The Bomb Squad provides emergency response and mitigation to incidents that are suspected to be explosive in nature, and/or be affiliated with biological or chemical substances. The fire department’s nationally accredited explosive device response capability is based upon personnel who receive advanced explosive device render safe training. When requested, by either another municipality or the FBI, the Bomb Squad responds to other jurisdictions to assist with explosive device mitigation.

A component of the Special Operations Branch, the Chief Fire Marshal serves as the Bomb Squad Commander, and assigns a Team Leader to each shift. The department staffs the Bomb Squad with eleven nationally certified Hazardous Device (bomb) Technician slots.

In 2004, the squad obtained Drake, a golden retriever trained in locating materials used in creating explosive devices, firearms, and ammunition.

The Bomb Squad apparatus includes a medium duty rescue and step van that tows a containment vessel. The team currently has available a wide range of equipment, robotics, and advanced technology enabling it to respond to, identify, and mitigate explosive device incidents and threats within the city and the surrounding mutual aid jurisdictions.

source

leolady

reply to post by leolady


Hmmm.

Training purposes then maybe.

Or like someone said, needed to get rid of it fast.

Maybe the dog got a positive hit and safest route is to blow it up ASAP.
Or maybe the dog was not around so they had to assume the worst and blow it up...
or ....

I dunno much about bomb squads or policies.

reply to post by Darkblade71

Training purposes then maybe.

Yes that is plausible to me. If they discovered that it really was not a danger then decided to use the event to further the training on bomb recovery and detainment...stuff.

leolady

reply to post by leolady

On a practical note, it wouldn't hurt to identify a few different routes out of your area (driving, biking, walking) some basic supplies and a couple places to go to, should you find you have to evacuate ... think of it as an action plan. Even if you never implement, it provides some peace of mind to the "what ifs"

reply to post by LadySkadi


I agree. Being that I am on the East Coast, we deal with hurricanes each year. That I know how to prep for, they creep up on us gradually so we have time to consider preparations.

But this event made me think that I really am not prepared for a sudden situation that might make me have to flee for safety in a hurry.

Scary Stuff !

leolady