NVC

Two Bomb Threats in One Week Force Evacuations of Multiple Buildings at San Antonio's Largest Community College

Wednesday, February 21, 2018TXbomb threatemergency notificationmedium confidence

UnfoundedNo evidence of an actual threat was found. The institutional response is documented because the alert communication is identical to what would occur during a real incident.

On February 21, 2018, Northwest Vista College -- the largest college in the Alamo Colleges District and a Hispanic-Serving Institution serving 19,000 students in San Antonio -- evacuated multiple buildings including RedBud, Huisache Hall, and the Boardwalk after receiving a bomb threat. Classes in the affected buildings were canceled through 5:30 p.m. A second bomb threat against Juniper Hall three days later prompted another closure, marking back-to-back threats in a single week with no explanation found by authorities.

Alerts: 2
Response: —
Killed: —
Injured: —

Institution

Northwest Vista College

Community College · TX

~19,000 studentsAlamo Alert

Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMSMid-morning, February 21, 2018, CST

Approximate reconstruction196 chars

Alamo Alert NVC: Immediately evacuate RedBud, Huisache Hall & Boardwalk due to possible bomb threat. Classes in these buildings are cancelled until 5:30pm. All other classes are held as scheduled.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from Spectrum News San Antonio (Feb 21, 2018) and News4 San Antonio coverage; the Alamo Alert system sends text, email, and campus signage simultaneously

The Alamo Alert system is used across all five Alamo Colleges campuses for emergency communications

Only the three named buildings were evacuated; all other campus buildings continued normal operations

ALL CLEARSMSAfternoon, February 21, 2018, CST

Approximate reconstruction213 chars

Alamo Alert NVC: All Clear. The bomb threat at Northwest Vista College has been investigated and no devices were found. RedBud, Huisache Hall, and the Boardwalk are now open. Normal campus operations have resumed.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from Spectrum News San Antonio coverage; exact wording of all-clear not independently confirmed

Law enforcement cleared all three evacuated buildings before allowing re-entry

Subsequent second threat occurred at Juniper Hall on Saturday, February 24, 2018

Context

Background

Northwest Vista College is the largest campus in the Alamo Colleges District, a five-college community college system in San Antonio, Texas, serving one of the largest Hispanic populations of any community college in the United States. With approximately 19,000 students, NVC qualifies as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). On February 21, 2018, the Alamo Colleges Police Department responded to a bomb threat against multiple campus buildings. Students were evacuated from RedBud, Huisache Hall, and the Boardwalk while police conducted a thorough search of the affected structures. Three days later, on Saturday, February 24, 2018, Juniper Hall was closed after another unconfirmed bomb threat was received. This second threat came on a day when few students were on campus; early voting was taking place in a portable building nearby and continued. Authorities found no devices in either incident and had no information on why the campus would receive two threats in a single week.

Outcome

No explosive devices found. Buildings reopened after law enforcement search. Alamo Colleges Police investigated both threats and found no devices. Early voting in portable building near Juniper Hall continued during the second evacuation.

Provenance

Sources

News
Northwest Vista College students evacuated over bomb threat - Spectrum News San Antonio
spectrumlocalnews.com
News
Bomb threat made against Northwest Vista College cleared - News4 San Antonio
news4sanantonio.com
News
Northwest Vista College building reopens after unconfirmed bomb threat - Spectrum News San Antonio
spectrumlocalnews.com

Alert Sequence

Background

Sources

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