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Hunter clinic reopens after threat
Hunter-bomb-threat--Hazmat-Truck
A hazmat truck from Hunter Army Airfield sets up operations near Tuttle Army Health Clinic following a bomb threat. - photo by Photo provided.

A Tuttle Army Health Clinic on Hunter Army Airfield was reopened about noon today after being closed this morning because of a bomb threat.
A news release from Fort Stewart's Winn Army Community Hospital public affairs said a non-commissioned officer-in-charge received a call this morning at approximately 7 from a female who said there was a bomb in the clinic.
The noon release said the building had been searched and no bombs found, according to incident commander Juan Cruz.
After the original threat, Tuttle staff immediately began executing all safety and security protocols, beginning with calling 911 to notify military police.
Personnel were evacuated into pre-designated locations. Hunter Army Airfield MPs responded and blocked-off Montgomery Gate and redirected traffic away from Tuttle.
Currently, an emergency ordnance disposal unit is searching the clinic. This search will take approximately five hours to complete. All personnel are accounted for and have been moved to HAAF's Post Exchange parking lot.

Here's Cruz's statement released at noon:

Statement by Incident Commander - Juan Cruz, Incident Commander, Hunter Army Airfield Directorate of Emergency Services

"At 7 a.m. today, a receptionist for Tuttle Army Health Clinic received a telephone call from a caller who alleged there was a bomb at the Clinic.
The receptionist alerted her superiors who alerted the Hunter Military Police.

"Within minutes, the order was given to clear the clinic.

"Shortly thereafter, Hunter's police department cleared three surrounding buildings (the Hunter Club, the Landmark Inn and the Hunter Guest House) and cordoned off the area.

"An Incident Command Center was quickly established. In addition to Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield's police and fire departments being part of that team, an explosive ordnance detachment from Fort Stewart was on station along with Chatham Emergency Management Agency, Chatham County Sheriff Department and Savannah Fire Department.

"The Fort Stewart's bomb-sniffing dogs searched the perimeter of the Clinic and found nothing. While sniffing each individual room, a dog alerted on one room. The dogs were removed from the scene and an EOD team conducted a search in that room. They later declared the room clear.

"Law enforcement agencies remain on station as our investigation is continuing. At this point in time, we have not found a bomb or anything
resembling a bomb. But our investigation is ongoing. This site has
been declared safe.

"The communication between our Army agencies and those from Savannah/Chatham County has been impressive. This response is representative of the professionalism of our agencies here on Fort Stewart/Hunter and our neighbors outside the gate."

To check on appointments scheduled today, call Winn Army Community Hospital's Call Center at (912) 435-6633 for status.

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