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Responding to an Active Shooter

Real Active Shooter Incidents

  • On January 14, 2014, at 7:30 a.m., Mason Andrew Campbell, 12, armed with a shotgun, began shooting in Berrendo Middle School in Roswell, New Mexico. A teacher at the school confronted and ordered him to place his gun on the ground. The shooter complied. No one was killed; 3 were wounded: 2 students and an unarmed security guard. The shooter was taken into custody.
  • On June 5, 2014, at 3:25 p.m., Aaron Rey Ybarra, 26, armed with a shotgun, allegedly began shooting in Otto Miller Hall at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington. He was confronted and pepper sprayed by a student as he was reloading. One person was killed; 3 were wounded. Students restrained the shooter until law enforcement arrived.
  • On November 20, 2014, at 12:00 a.m., Myron May, 31, armed with a handgun, began shooting in Strozier Library at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. He was an alumnus of the university. No one was killed; 3 were wounded. The shooter was killed during an exchange of gunfire with campus law enforcement.
  • On October 1, 2015, at 10:38 a.m., Christopher Sean Harper-Mercer, 26, armed with several handguns and a rifle, began shooting classmates in a classroom on the campus of Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon. Nine people were killed; 7 were wounded. The shooter committed suicide after being wounded during an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement.

These are just a few of the numerous active shooter instances that occur every year in the United States. Educational campuses are places most people typically feel safe and would never expect someone to suddenly start shooting people. Active shooter incidents are difficult to predict since they often occur without warning and are typically over within minutes. There are, however, ways you can help prepare your school for an event like this and potentially save lives.

What is an Active Shooter?

The term active shooter began to be used in the wake of the Columbine High School Massacre and has since been used to describe instances like those mentioned above. The United States Department of Homeland Security describes an active shooter as “an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined space or other populated area. In most cases, active shooters use firearms and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims.”

Responding to an Active Shooter

Since active shooter situations develop so quickly and provide little or no warning, it is difficult to prepare for them, but developing a plan for your organization and practicing it can make a difference in saving lives until law enforcement arrives.

The Best Option – Evacuate (Run)

The best option in an active shooter scenario is to flee the premises and remove yourself from the shooter’s path. Unfortunately, this is not always a viable option as escaping could put you in greater danger if it brings you closer to the shooter. There are a few precautions you should take if, after assessing the situation, you determine you can safely evacuate. You should:

  • Call 911 if you can do so safely.
  • Warn others you encounter to not enter the area.
  • Leave your personal belongings behind.
  • Have your escape route planned in your mind.
  • Do not move or evacuate wounded people.
  • If possible, assist other able-bodied people in fleeing.
  • Comply with all law enforcement requests.
  • Keep your hands visible and your fingers spread.

Next Best Option – Hide

If you are unable to safely evacuate the path of an active shooter your next best option is to hide, avoid detection, and wait for law enforcement to arrive. While hiding is not as effective as evacuation, it can usually keep you safe long enough for law enforcement to arrive. Hiding can be dangerous though as it can leave you trapped if the shooter were to discover your location. To ensure your hiding spot is as safe as possible please consider the following recommendations:

  • Remain silent and still.
  • Silence your cell phone and other electronic devices.
  • If possible, lock the door to whatever room or closet you are hiding in. Do not unlock the door for anyone at any time. Tell the police that you will wait for them to retrieve a key to the room.
  • Blockade the door with heavy furniture.
  • Make sure you remain out of the shooter’s view.
  • Stay away from any windows.
  • If the windows are equipped with curtains, close them.
  • Remain low and attempt to find cover under furniture or other objects.
  • Do not leave your hiding place until you are absolutely certain law enforcement has arrived.

Last Resort – Fight Back

Occasionally, in active shooter situations, evacuation and hiding are not available options and you may find yourself face-to-face with the shooter. If you find yourself in this situation, your only remaining option is to take physical action against the shooter in hopes of incapacitating them or disarming them. This should be considered an extreme last resort, but if you decide attacking the shooter is your only option, consider the following strategies:

  • Act quickly; hesitation could get you killed.
  • Throw items to distract, disorient, or disarm the shooter.
  • Yell and wave your arms to startle the shooter.

Working with Emergency Responders

What to Report to 911 or First Responders

Active shooter situations are extremely frantic and are often over in a manner of minutes. Cooperating with law enforcement and emergency response personnel can prove critical in stopping the perpetrator and saving lives. If you are able to safely call 911, or if you safely evacuate and make contact with first responders, the information you provide is extremely important.

Do your best to provide the following information:

  • The number of shooters
  • Location of shooter(s)
  • The number of potential victims
  • Physical description of the shooter(s), including gender, clothing, height, weight, hair color, etc.
  • The amount and types of weapons used by the perpetrator(s)

First Responders’ Roles

Law enforcement is trained to locate and stop the shooter above all else. This means they will not stop to treat or help evacuate any injured people. They will also not escort people out of the building until they have identified and stopped the shooter. This means if you are in a concealed area, remain there until law enforcement personnel indicate that the shooter is apprehended or killed.

Reacting to First Responders

Law enforcement will attempt to eliminate the threat quickly, so it is important to comply with all of their demands and do not attempt to interfere in any capacity even if you think you are being helpful. To best comply with law enforcement and enable them to do their job safely and effectively do the following:

  • Follow instructions immediately.
  • Remain calm.
  • Carry nothing in your hands.
  • Keep your hands visible at all times.
  • Keep your fingers spread.
  • Never make any sudden movements.
  • Do not ask for help or medical assistance, there will be responders outside waiting to perform this task.
  • Do not ask for directions on how to evacuate they will either tell you or simply proceed from the area they came from.

Another key issue to consider when reacting to first responders is that an incident like an active shooter may involve more than uniformed police officers you are accustomed to seeing. Some may be in SWAT gear and others may be in plain clothes so it is important to respond cautiously to anyone claiming to be law enforcement until you are sure they are in fact law enforcement personnel.

Develop an Emergency Action Plan

Developing an Emergency Active Plan is essential in protecting faculty, staff, students and guests in the event an active shooter enters your facility. Every organization’s Emergency Action Plan will be different based on the nature of the organization as well as the design of the building, but certain components will be the same for everyone.

Your plan should detail each individual’s responsibilities in the event of an emergency and this should be updated regularly to ensure all staff is up to speed. In addition, all evacuation routes detailed in the plan should be checked regularly to ensure they are still viable and nothing is obstructing them. Some key components to consider in your organization’s Emergency Action Plan include:

  • Evacuation procedures and routes: should vary depending on each location/area within your facility
  • Route assignments: The way certain people should escape depending on the area of the facility they are most likely to be
  • Floor plans: To help people better understand their best escape routes
  • List of exits: Make sure to check each exit to verify it is well marked
  • Safe areas: Areas that can be used to safely hide during an active shooter situation
  • Notification systems: How employees and guests will be alerted to an active shooter situation
  • Contact information: Include law enforcement, fire and rescue, local hospitals and more
  • Methods for reporting emergencies to the emergency personnel and who should be responsible for contacting them

Another key consideration when developing your Emergency Action Plan is to accommodate for anyone that may have disabilities or limitations. It is important to place people with restrictions in areas where they would be able to evacuate in the event an active shooter enters your organization.

Preparing for an Active Shooter

Creating an Emergency Action Plan is an important step in protecting your organization from an active shooter, but it is only effective if you train your employees and students on how to implement the plan in the event an active shooter situation arises. The best way to prepare employees for active shooter situations is to conduct active shooter drills. These drills will allow every employee to act out their roles and ensure they know what to do in the event of a real-life active shooter situation. Make sure all employees are trained in the following:

  • Recognizing an active shooter or the sounds of an active shooter.
  • Safely evacuating their area.
  • Safely hiding to avoid detection.
  • Fighting back as effectively as possible.
  • Contacting emergency personnel.
  • Recognizing and cooperating with emergency responders.

Give all employees copies of your facility’s Emergency Action Plan along with maps highlighting escape routes and potential secure areas to hide. Provide emergency contact information for those employees identified as ones to contact authorities.

Coordinating with Local Authorities

Another great way to ensure your employees are well trained and that your Emergency Action Plan is as effective as possible is to contact local authorities. Law enforcement personnel will be able to help develop a plan and may be available to help conduct drills. It is recommended that before conducting any active shooter drill that all employees, guests, local law enforcement and anyone else who may be in or near your facility are made aware of the drill as to avoid any potential panic or miscommunication.

Additional Active Shooter Resources

Interested in more information and tools to help prepare for an active shooter situation? Here are some tools from other organizations that may be helpful:

GuideOne proudly offers coverage for private and charter schools to help reduce the risk of loss and liability. Our goal is to keep your resources focused on your educational mission. We believe your time is better spent interacting with students than dealing with losses and legal issues. To learn more about the various types of schools we insure and the coverages we offer visit guideone.com/insurance/education or call 877.448.4331.

This material is for information only and is not intended to provide legal or professional advice. You are encouraged to consult with your own attorney or other expert consultants for a professional opinion specific to your situation. GuideOne welcomes all applications, without regard to religion, race, color, national origin, sex, handicap or familial status.

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© 2024 GuideOne Insurance. GuideOne® is the registered trademark of the GuideOne Insurance Company. All rights reserved. This material is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to give specific legal or risk management advice, nor are any suggested checklists or action plans intended to include or address all possible risk management exposures or solutions. You are encouraged to retain your own expert consultants and legal advisors in order to develop a risk management plan specific to your own activities.