DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTER INCIDENT AT YOUR FACILITY?
FACT: Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. The first 3-5 minutes, prior to the typical response time for police, is the most critical and requires an individual response.
BE PREPARED
- Know your nearest exits, escape routes. hiding places and items with which to fight
- Know your building systems and interoperabilities: i.e. which systems are affected when other systems are engaged.
- Assign responsibilities for system management to your team.
- Have response tools (e.g., mass notification) at your fingertips and frequently rehearse them.
- Develop an active shooter plan. Example below.
- Practice, practice, practice!
HAVE A PLAN
Example Office Building Active Shooter Plan
- All: Survive
- All: Communicate within building staff
- Fire/Life Safety Director: Make all building announcement to occupants
- Fire/Life Safety Director/Security: Recall elevators. When police arrive, release fail-safe doors
- Property Management: Barricade. Provide mass notification messages to tenants and corporate.
- Engineers: Barricade. Monitor building systems
- Security: Ensure exits open and available. When police arrive, provide with Active Shooter kit.
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE DURING AN ACTIVE SHOOTER INCIDENT
1. EVACUATE
If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to evacuate the premises.
- Keep your hands visible
- Do not attempt to move wounded people
- Call 911 when you are safe
2. HIDE OUT
If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the active shooter is less likely to find you. Your hiding place should:
- Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction (i.e., an office with a closed and locked door)
- Not trap you or restrict your options for movement
- Remain calm ++ Dial 911, if possible, to alert police to the active shooter’s location
- If you cannot speak, leave the line open and allow the dispatcher to listen
3. TAKE ACTION AGAINST SHOOTER
As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the active shooter by:
- Acting as aggressively as possible against him/her
- Throwing items and improvising weapons
- Committing to your actions
BUILDING STAFF ACTIONS DURING AN ACTIVE SHOOTER INCIDENT
1. SURVIVE
Know and implement individual actions listed above.
2. COMMUNICATE
Call 911 • Notify building staff • Notify tenants
3. ASSIST
If safe, prepare building systems for first responders when they arrive:
- Elevators
- Access control systems
- Fail-safe doors
- Entrances/exits Provide first responders building information:
- Floor plans
- Vertical/riser diagrams
- Access cards/keys
BUILDING SYSTEM CHECKLIST FOR ACTIVE SHOOTER
CAN YOU DO THE FOLLOWING?
- Immediately lock all doors with a lockdown card?
- Lockdown all doors via an online service?
- Disable readers throughout building or a portion of the building?
- Immediately stop elevators, so they don’t recall to the lobby?
- Activate a panic button which alerts selected individuals?
- Remotely view your cameras
REFERENCES
DHS Active Shooter information and guides: http://www.dhs.gov/active-shooter-preparedness
Houston “Run, Hide, Fight” video: http://www.readyhoustontx.gov/runhidefightenglish.html
NYC Emergency Preparedness Business Guide: http://www.nyc.gov/html/oem/downloads/pdf/Business_Guide_Final.pdf
FBI Active Shooter Study: https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/office-of-partner-engagement/active-shooter-incidents/a-study-of-active-shooter-incidents-in-the-u.s.-2000-2013