Hudson Valley College Shuts Down 2 Campuses Due to Bomb Threat

A local college closed two campuses due to reports of a bomb.

On Thursday around noon, SUNY Orange received a bomb threat indicating that bombs were placed in Harriman Hall and the Bio-Tech Building at their Middletown campus.

The two buildings were immediately evacuated. Nearby buildings Rowley Center, Hudson Hall and Morrison Hall were evacuated shortly thereafter as a precaution, officials say.

Also as a precautionary measure, the collage cancelled all classes and closed the Middletown campus for the rest of the day.

To avoid confusion among students, employees and the general community regarding, SUNY Orange’s Newburgh campus was also closed.

The Middletown Police Department responded to the threat. Seven police K-9’s searched every room on every floor of Harriman Hall, Rowley Center, Bio-Tech Building and Hudson Hall, officials say.

No explosive devices were found and all buildings were proclaimed safe.

“Unfortunately, threats of this nature have become all-too-common occurrences on college campuses and at many other venues across the country,” Dr. Kristine Young stated. Today, SUNY Orange was the victim of a bomb threat. Thankfully, the members of our College community were never in danger and all are safe.

The investigation into the source of the threat is ongoing.

Anyone with information that may be pertinent to the investigation is asked to contact Ed Kiely, director of Safety and Security, at 341-4934.

The college will return to normal operations on both campuses on Friday.