MADISON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Staff at Boone Memorial Hospital remain on alert after a bomb threat was received Sunday.
According to a Monday release from the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, on Sunday, December 4, 2022, staff at Boone Memorial Hospital reported receiving a bomb threat called into the facility by telephone at approximately 9:00 PM.
Immediately upon reception of the threat, authorities were contacted and Boone Memorial Bomb Threat Emergency Preparedness Procedures went into effect.
This resulted in the immediate evacuation of the facility, and patients and staff were safely relocated to Boone Memorial Hospital’s Family Medical Center where patients continued to receive care and medical treatment.
Patients requiring higher levels of care were transported to other hospitals throughout the region.
The emergency scene saw response from
The City of Madison Police Department (“Madison Police Department”), Boone County Sheriff’s Office, Madison Volunteer Fire Department, West Virginia State Police (“WVSP”), and several other agencies and first responders who were able to establish a perimeter and secure the facility.
The West Virginia State Police Bomb Squad responded with a bomb-sniffing dog, and a sweep of the entire facility was conducted over the course of several hours by authorities who detected no threats on the scene.
Following the sweep of the building, at approximately 2:10 AM, patients and staff were returned to the hospital. At approximately 2:25 AM, the hospital resumed operation as normal.
“Officials do not believe there is any active threat to the hospital,” read the statement.
The investigation of the threat is being spearheaded by the Madison Police Department and those with pertinent information is encouraged to contact the department at (304) 369-1211.
Additional LOOTPRESS crime coverage can be found here.