The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) facility in Colorado was evacuated after employees found suspicious packages that appeared “out of place,” according to a spokesperson with Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, reported the Associate Press.
The five suspicious packages found at the facility’s Eberhardt-Findley Building only contained basic office supplies, but a spokesperson for the air force base said they have increased security measures anyway.
“Preliminary test results of the package indicated that there is not a positive test for a nuclear, biological, or chemical element contained within the package,” a base representative told KKTV.
The spokesperson said heightened security would persist at the air force base.
Meanwhile, if you are not sure how to identify a suspicious package, or if you are unsure what to do if you are suspicious of a package, here are some tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Characteristics of suspicious packages are: inappropriate or unusual labeling, appearance, or other suspicious signs.
Suspicious Labeling:
- Excessive postage
- Handwritten or poorly typed address
- Misspellings of common words
- Strange return address or no return address
- Incorrect titles or title without a name
- Not addressed to a specific person
- Marked with restrictions, such as “Personal,” “Confidential,” or “Do not x-ray”
- Marked with any threatening language
- Postmarked from a city or state that does not match the return address
Suspicious Appearance:
- Oily stains, discolorations, or odor
- Lopsided or uneven envelope
- Excessive packaging material such as masking tape, string, etc.
- Excessive weight
- Ticking sound
- Protruding wires or aluminum foil
If you are suspicious about a package or envelope, the CDC recommends the following:
- Do not open it
- Do not shake or empty the contents of any suspicious package or envelope.
- Do not carry the package or envelope, show it to others or allow others to examine it.
- Put the package or envelope down on a stable surface; do not sniff, touch, taste, or look closely at it or at any contents, which may have spilled.
- Alert others in the area about the suspicious package or envelope. Leave the area, close any doors, and take actions to prevent others from entering the area. If possible, shut off the ventilation system.
- Wash hands with soap and water to prevent spreading potentially infectious material to face or skin. Seek additional instructions for exposed or potentially exposed persons.
- If at work, notify a supervisor, a security officer, or a law enforcement official. If at home, contact the local law enforcement agency.
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