GEMA/HS Dispatch December 2017 Edition | Page 21

Students look on as explosive relays create a wall of fire. This showcase of explosive power serves to illustrate how dangerous and terrifying a bomb threat situation can be. “We can talk all day about bomb threats and how important they are, but until someone feels that ‘thump’ or sees that blast, they won’t take it seriously.” A GBI bomb technician and instructor of the Managing School Bomb Threats course demonstrates the power of a blasting cap explosive on a watermelon. Teachers also showed the impressive force of homemade pipe bombs, which are common in methamphetamine investigations and result in the surrounding air turning “denser than steel.” DISPATCH