A day at the zoo is supposed to be a fun outing for families, but in several areas of the country hoax calls involving claims of active shooters and bomb threats have prompted many zoos to evacuate and close. Law enforcement has said calls were swatting attempts.
Swatting is when a person makes a false report to emergency services or 911 in order to elicit a response to dispatch police or even a SWAT team. These attempts disrupt facility operations and cause explicit distress among everyone involved.
According to AP, the FBI is now considering swatting attempts to be a national problem. A call reporting a false incident can cost upward of thousands of dollars. In addition, these calls divert needed resources from communities and potentially endanger first responders and the public.
Threats were made at three zoos in Ohio and spread to locations in Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida and Arizona. According to WCNC Charlotte, The Phoenix Zoo received a call from someone claiming that there was a bomb on the property. More than 2,000 guests and 500 staff members were forced to evacuate. No explosive devices at any of the facilities were found.
While facility managers and safety professionals can’t totally prevent swatting attempts from happening, there are a few things that they can prepare for. First is to have a close relationship with local police departments and 911 centers. Some swatting attempts happen through 911 calls rather than directly through the facility. When this happens, law enforcement can call and ask if there is a violent situation occurring.
It is important that all facilities – regardless of their type – address potential swatting incidents. Facility managers should remind associates about reporting incidents and talk to local partners about how to best contact them in the event a violent situation was to arise.
Zoos are an interesting facility to manage as having these spacious, open environments with wild animals bring on a new set of challenges. It is imperative that managers work with safety and security personnel to do regular risk assessments. This can evaluate crimes that have to do with both people and property within a certain mile radius. If a facility is located in an area with a higher crime level, it is likely that swatting attempts may occur.
Mackenna Moralez is the managing editor of the facilities market and the host of the Facilities in Focus podcast.
