Are You Prepared for an Active Shooter Incident?

Are You Prepared for an Active Shooter Incident?

The tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut is only the most recent in a depressingly long string of active shooter incidents.  We like to think such horrors will never be visited upon us, but consider the locations of other active shooter incidents: Littleton, CO; Santee, CA; Nickel Mines, PA; Red Lake, MN; and Chardon, OH.  Residents and students in these areas likely doubted they would ever be victims.

While it is impossible to include all the information needed to survive an active shooter incident, the following 8 vital themes should be reviewed to keep you safe:

1. An active shooter situation is any incident in which a person or persons armed with a deadly weapon is systematically, actively, and presently employing the weapons against innocent victims upon the arrival of the police.  An AS incident can develop anytime, anyplace.
2. Expect the unexpected.  Look at people’s behavior critically.

• Today’s friend/colleague could be tomorrow’s active shooter.  Be aware of behavioral changes; suspicious packages; inappropriate dress (e.g., a long coat on a sunny summer day could be hiding a rifle); increased use of illegal substances; seeming depression; loss of interest in school, friends, and usual favored activities; etc.)

1. If you see something, say something!  Report concerns immediately to the NOVA College Police.  The Police will investigate/respond to all reports.  The Police will also notify College mental health as well as the CARE and Threat Assessment Teams, and other appropriate offices to ensure help is made available to people exhibiting concerning behaviors.
2. Police cannot prevent an active shooter.

• At best, the police can deter an active shooter by regular foot and vehicle patrol, but the police rely upon information from the entire college community to keep us safe.

1. Ultimately, you are responsible for ensuring your own safety in a crisis through planning (i.e., have a plan for each location you frequent) and a commitment to survive.
2. Time is critical.  You must be prepared to act decisively.   In the event of an active shooter on campus, you have three options:

• Flee.  Evacuate the area immediately.  This is your best chance of survival!  Even if the shooter is approaching you, you are more likely to survive by running away, since a moving target is difficult to hit and most shooters are not trained marksmen.
• Hide.  If you cannot evacuate, lock the doors; turn of lights, pagers, and cell phones; hide behind articles such as desks as far out of view from windows as possible; and remain quiet.
• Fight.  In extreme circumstances, when evacuation is not possible and you’re actually confronting an active shooter, you and others must go on the offensive.  Just like Todd Beamer said “let’s roll” and set off with other passengers to attack the 9/11 hijackers, you must do the same.  Yell, throw articles at the shooter, attack, and secure the shooter.  Put him on the defensive to minimize your own casualties.

1. Police will respond aggressively.

• Don’t get in the way or contribute to an already confusing situation.  The police’s immediate goal is to go to the shooter to end the threat.
• Don’t allow yourself to be considered a suspect.  Keep your hands visible and make no quick/unpredictable movements.

8. Program NOVA Police Dispatch into your cell phones now: 703-764-5000.

The NOVA Police Department offers detailed briefings on active shooter history, their motivations, what to do in an active shooter incident, and what to expect from the police response.  Groups interested in receiving this presentation should contact the Department’s Community Outreach Officer, Tony Ong, at tong@nvcc.edu.