Response to Possible Bomb Deliveries: Car Bomb Example

In the case of a large sedan, the indoor evacuation distance determined by TSWG is 400 feet (approximately one city block). The outdoor evacuation distance is 1,750 feet (approximately 4 1/2 city blocks). These distances account for the potential damage that can be created by a 1,000 lb. TNT charge (TSWG's maximum charge weight for a large car bomb).

All people located within the 400 ft indoor evacuation range (indicated in the chart above by the orange band), should evacuate the building they are in and move to a location beyond the outdoor evacuation distance (1,750 ft) or to a safe indoor location at least 400 ft from the suspected car bomb. Anyone who remains indoors within the 400 ft indoor range is at possible risk of severe injury or death due to structural failure if the bomb explodes.

People that are located indoors beyond the 400 ft range should seek refuge toward the interior of the building in a location away from any glass, overhead fixtures, and weak structural elements. If the car bomb explodes, there may be damage to the exterior of the building and moderate interior damage due to projected window glass, but most buildings will remain structurally intact.

People that are located outdoors should move beyond the 1,750 ft outdoor danger range. Beyond 1,750 ft, outdoor hazards of blast exposure and debris from a large car bomb will be very minimal.

These same principles for indoor and outdoor evacuation apply to other types of possible vehicle bombs. Refer to the chart below for the appropriate evacuation distances for each type of vehicle.

TSWG EVACUATION DISTANCES

Vehicle Type	Outdoor	Indoor
Small Car	1,500 ft.	320 ft.
Large Sedan	1,750 ft.	400 ft.
Cargo Van	2,750 ft.	640 ft.
Box Van	3,750 ft.	840 ft.
Water/Fuel Truck	6,500 ft.	1,240 ft.
Tractor Trailer	7,000 ft.	1,570 ft.

This essay was prepared by Craig Gundry, CPS. Mr. Gundry is the Vice President of Special Projects for Critical Intervention Services and a security consultant with over 13 years experience in anti-terrorism and weapon of mass destruction issues. Mr. Gundry is also the author of the Bomb Countermeasures for Security Professionals CD-ROM and teaches anti-terrorism courses for Clearwater's S2 Safety & Intelligence Institute.