Losing a loved one to a random act of violence is unthinkable. Unfortunately, recent events serve to remind us that we are not immune from these types of tragedies.

As we know, an active shooting event can occur at any time or any place. During the past several years, there have been active shooter incidents where we shop [2007 … Gunman kills 5 and injures multiple others at a Utah mall], where we exercise our free speech [2011 … Representative Gifford critically shot while meeting with constituents at a market – 6 people killed and 3 others injured], where we learn [1999 … Columbine High School 12 students and 1 teacher killed; 2007 … Virginia Tech 32 killed and many others wounded; 2008 Northern Illinois University 5 students killed on campus], and where we work [2005 … Gunman opens fire at beer distributor, killing 8 people].

An active shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area. In most cases, there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims.

Most active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Because most incidents are over within minutes, we must be prepared to deal with the situation until law enforcement personnel arrive.

And, preparedness and awareness are the keys to helping protect our employees, our customers, and ourselves.

An active shooter is 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.

Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Typically, the immediate deployment of law enforcement is required to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to victims. Active shooters usually will continue to move throughout building or area until stopped by law enforcement, suicide, or other intervention.

The information presented in this course is summarized in the booklet titled “Active Shooter: How To Respond,” published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The booklet provides guidance to individuals, including managers and employees, who become involved in an active shooter situation, and discusses how to react when law enforcement responds.

Narrator: It may feel like just another day at the office.

A series of shots shows a standard office. People work at cubicles. One desk has an American flag.

Narrator: But occasionally, life feels more like an action movie than reality.

A muscular man dressed in all black, wearing sunglasses and carrying a backpack, walks towards the office building. Inside the building, the employees are still going about their daily tasks. A security guard talks with a woman. A visitor greets a staff member.

Narrator: The authorities are working hard to protect you and to protect our public spaces.

Two employees say hello to each other and get into the elevator.

Narrator: But sometimes, bad people do bad things.

We cut back to the sidewalk outside, as we continue to see the man in black approaching the building. As he walks, a series of facts are displayed on the screen.

Caption: 21 killed, 19 wounded at a fast food restaurant. 32 killed, 25 wounded while attending class.

Caption: 6 killed, 13 wounded at a shopping center.

Caption: 13 killed, 29 wounded while at work.

Narrator: The warning signs may vary, but the devastating effects are the same ...

The man in black opens the front door of the building. As he enters, we see a notice on the glass prohibiting the carrying of concealed handguns in the building under penalty of trespass.

Narrator: ... and unfortunately, you need to be prepared for the worst.

The camera pans past a series of people at their desks and stops in front of the elevator, where the security guard is talking with an employee. The man in black walks past the guard, removes a shotgun from his backpack, turns around, and shoots the security guard and two employees. More shots are fired. A woman at a photocopier hears the noise and looks around.

Narrator: If you are to ever find yourself in the middle of an active shooter event, your survival may depend on whether or not you have a plan.

Narrator: The plan doesn't have to be complicated.

A man in a purple shirt looks up, startled. A woman hangs up a phone and looks down the hallway at the commotion.

Narrator: The plan doesn't have to be complicated. There are three things you could do that make a difference: Run. Hide. Fight.

The woman who was on the phone stands up, moves into the hallway, and looks scared. Another woman, wearing pink, sits at her desk with an alarmed look on her face. She then gets out of her chair and moves under her desk.

Narrator: First and foremost, if you can get out, do.

The man in purple starts running down the hallway. He grabs the woman who was on the phone and continues moving towards the exit.

Narrator: Always try and escape or evacuate, even when others insist on staying.

The man in purple and the woman who was on the phone pass the cubicle of the woman in pink. They help her up and the three continue moving towards the exit.

Narrator: Encourage others to leave with you, but don't let them slow you down with indecision.

The man in purple stops, looks around a corner, then continues to lead the two women out. The woman in pink looks very afraid, but the other woman encourages her to keep going. The three employees enter the stairwell and start moving up the stairs.

Narrator: Remember what's important: you, not your stuff. Leave your belongings behind, and try to find a way to get out safely.

The three employees leave the building through an emergency exit. The camera turns to a mechanical area behind the building, where another man is locking a bicycle to a bike rack.

Narrator: Trying to get yourself out of harm's way needs to be your number one priority.

The three employees come around a bend and take shelter behind a cinderblock wall protecting mechanical equipment. They are now out of sight of the front of the building and the emergency exit.

The man with the bicycle has headphones off, and walks off, looking at his phone. The man in purple runs out and gets the bicyclist's attention. One of the women screams "hey" at the cyclist.

Narrator: Once you are out of the line of fire, try to prevent others from walking into the danger zone and call 9-1-1.

The man in purple leads the cyclist back to the area where the employees are sheltering. The woman who had been on the telephone calls the police from her cell phone. The woman in pink is still panicking, but remains with the group.

A full-screen caption appears.

Caption: RUN. When an active shooter is in your vicinity:

• If there is an escape path, attempt to evacuate.
• Evacuate whether others agree to or not.
• Leave your belongings behind.
• Help others escape if possible.
• Prevent others from entering the area.
• Call 9-1-1 when you are safe.

The camera cuts back to the office, where we see the woman who was at the photocopier. She looks out the door, but quickly ducks back into the room.

The woman from the copier closes the copy room door and looks around the room. The camera cuts to a group sitting in the break room. More shots ring out. The employees in the break room stop talking and begin to look around. They all rise from the table at the same time. A man in a brown suit motions for the group to stay still for a minute, and a woman in red says "oh my gosh." The man in the suit looks out into the hallway and sees other people running at the far end of the hallway. He moves back into the break room and closes the door. Another man, in a blue shirt, signals the others to stay quiet as he and a man in yellow move the table to barricade the door.

Narrator: Act quickly and quietly. Try to secure your hiding place the best you can.

The camera cuts back to the copy room, where the woman at the photocopier moves the machine in front of the door. She then shuts off the lights and pulls out a cell phone.

Narrator: Turn out lights, and if possible, remember to lock doors. Silence your ringer and vibration mode on your cell phone.

The woman in the copy room slides the ringer volume control on her phone to silent, then turns the vibrate mode off. The camera cuts to the shooter, who is walking through a set of cubicles. The employees are all in hiding or have left the building. He reaches for a doorknob, but finds it locked and moves on.

Narrator: And if you can't find a safe room or closet, try to conceal yourself behind large objects that may protect you.

The camera shows the woman in the copy room crouched in the corner between the wall and the copier, her eyes closed, silent.

A full-screen caption appears.

• Lock and/or blockade the door.
• Silence your cell phone.
• Hide behind large objects.
• Remain very quiet.

• Be out of the shooter's view.
• Provide protection of shots are fired in your direction.
• Not trap or restrict your options for movement.

The music switches from suspenseful to a faster tempo. The camera switches to the break room, where the group of employees realize that they are in trouble.

Narrator: As a last resort, if your life is at risk, whether you're alone or working together as a group, fight! Act with aggression. Improvise weapons. Disarm him ...

The employees in the break room try to calm the woman who is panicking, and begin organizing themselves. The man in yellow picks up a chair. He looks apprehensive, but moves towards the door. The panicking woman moves into a corner. The man in brown stands to the side of the door, holding a fire extinguisher above his head, ready to swing. He silently mouths to the others, asking if they're ready.

Narrator: ... and commit to taking the shooter down, no matter what.

The shooter enters the break room holding an assault rifle, and the employees attack. Two employees are holding coffee mugs, while the other two start to swing with the fire extinguisher and chair.

A full-screen caption appears.

Caption: FIGHT. As a last resort, and only if your life is in danger:

• Attempt to incapacitate the shooter.
• Act with physical aggression.
• Improvise weapons.
• Commit to your actions.

The tempo of the background music slows, as the camera cuts back to the exterior of a building. Three more employees exit, and the group in the mechanical area gets their attention, directing them to the hiding place.

Narrator: Try to be aware of your environment. Always have an exit plan.

The camera cuts back to the interior of the building. The police have arrived. Some are patrol officers, wearing blue uniforms. Others are part of the SWAT team, wearing camouflage fatigues and helmets. All the officers are holding assault rifles. They are entering in a tactical formation, with some officers looking forward while others check to the sides and behind them. They stay as a tight group.

Narrator: Know that in an incident like this, victims are generally chosen randomly. The event is unpredictable and may evolve quickly.

The officers begin entering offices one-by-one, searching for the shooter. They pass a man lying on the ground, continuing to search for the man in black.

Narrator: The first responders on the scene are not there to evacuate or tend to the injured. They are well-trained, and are there to stop the shooter.

The music changes to a more upbeat, militaristic march. The police continue to do a room-by-room search as they pass by more casualties. Officers check each stall in a bathroom before moving down another hallway.

A full-screen caption appears.

Caption: 9-1-1. When law enforcement arrives:

• Remain calm and follow instructions.
• Keep your hands visible at all times.
• Avoid pointing or yelling.
• Know that help for the injured is on its way.

The front door of the building slams open and more employees pour out. They are running with their hands in the air, palms facing forward to demonstrate that they are not holding any weapons. A man assists others as they round a bend on an exterior stairwell. We then see a shot of a fire engine parked in front of the building.

Narrator: Your actions can make a difference for your safety and survival. Be aware and be prepared.

More people leave the front door as a firefighter directs them towards a rallying point. More people are running down the exterior stairwell. As he rounds a landing, a man removes his suit jacket, but does not slow down. Other employees, including the group from the break room, are crouched on the ground by the fire engine, out of breath, but uninjured.

Narrator: And if you find yourself faced with an active shooter, there are three key things you need to remember to survive: Run. Hide. Fight.

The camera pans across the employees congregated by the fire engine. Many are talking with one another. Others are on cell phones. A firefighter moves past, giving directions as the screen fades to black.

Caption: "Run. Hide. Fight.: Surviving an Active Shooter Event" is a Department of Homeland Security Grant Funded Project of the Regional Catastrophic Planning Initiative. Produced by the City of Houston Mayor's Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security. Ready Houston, www.readyhoustontx.gov.

Caption: For more information: www.readyhoustontx.gov.

Screen fades to black.

End of film.

Copyright © 2012 City of Houston

If safe evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the active shooter is less likely to find you.

Your hiding place should:

• Be out of the active shooter’s view.
• 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.

To prevent an active shooter from entering your hiding place:

• Lock the door.
• Blockade the door with heavy furniture.
• Close, cover, and move away from windows.

Let’s review what to expect when law enforcement officials arrive at an active shooter scene.

The first officers to arrive at the scene will not stop to help injured persons because their first priority is life safety, so they will need to secure the scene first.

When there is an emergency such as an active shooter incident, it is important to remember that officers arriving on scene may be coming from many different duty assignments and will likely be in various types of uniforms and even in street clothes. Do not be surprised by the variances in appearance, as law enforcement officials are trained to react quickly and work together.

After you have reached a safe location or assembly point, you will likely be held in that area by law enforcement until the situation is under control, and all witnesses have been identified and questioned.

• Your Emergency Action Plan is a useful tool for preparing for an active shooter incident.
  • Ensure that your facility has at least two evacuation routes.
  • Clearly post and mark evacuation routes in conspicuous locations throughout your facility.
  • Items to include in the plan are ensuring that all necessary staff have access and keys.
• Conduct exercises.
  • Include local law enforcement and first responders during training exercises.
  • Encourage law enforcement, emergency responders, SWAT teams, canine teams, and bomb squads to train for an active shooter scenario at your location.

A lack of preparedness in responding effectively to an active shooter can have disastrous consequences.

For example, shooting occurred in one room of a warehouse. The police investigation found that there was only one way in and out. Because of a lack of a secondary evacuation route, the employees in that room were cornered by the active shooter.

Developing an Emergency Action Plan to address this could have helped prevent additional casualties in this case. An Emergency Action Plan addresses critical policies and procedures, for: reporting emergencies and evacuation of the premises.

In addition, the Emergency Action Plan specifies responsibilities and key contact information. And, the Emergency Action Plan should include an emergency notification system In the event that evacuation is necessary, facilities should have at least two evacuation routes that are conspicuous and well marked.

After the Emergency Action Plan is in place, staff should be trained in responding to active shooter situations, including the use of exercises that involve local law enforcement.

With an effective Emergency Action Plan and training, staff will be better prepared to respond to an active shooter incident and other emergencies.

To best prepare your employees for an active shooter situation, the first thing you should do is create an Emergency Action Plan.

Create the Emergency Action Plan with input from several stakeholders including your human resources department, your training department (if one exists), facility owners/operators, your property manager, and local law enforcement and/or emergency responders.

Conduct drills and exercise your Emergency Action Plan at least once a year. Ensure that your Emergency Action Plan includes actions for persons with disabilities and access and functional needs; guests and visitors; contains bi-lingual language; needs for all populations.

The Emergency Action Plan will prepare your employees to respond effectively and help minimize loss of life.

Another important aspect of preparedness is training. The most effective way to train your employees to respond to an active shooter situation is to conduct mock active shooter training exercises. Local law enforcement organizations are an excellent resource in designing training exercises.

Employees should be trained in:

• Recognizing the sound of gunshots.
• Reacting quickly when gunshots are heard and/or when a shooting is witnessed. Training should cover:
  • Run 
  • Hide
  • Fight as a last resort.
• Calling 911.
• Reacting when law enforcement arrives.
• Adopting the survival mindset during times of crisis.

For more information on training exercises, refer to IS-120.a An Introduction to Exercises and IS-130 Exercise Evaluation and Planning. Links are provided at the end of this course.

Current or former employees typically do not become violent unexpectedly. Instead, they display indicators of potentially violent behavior over time.

For example, days before the office shooting at a software company, the shooter angrily confronted management over personal financial issues. One member of payroll told her family that his behavior frightened her. A few days later, the shooter then asked two of his coworkers to sign his will.

The shooter at the warehouse incident was fired six months earlier for poor performance. It was reported that he showed up late or missed entire days and was argumentative.

And, finally fostering a respectful workplace is one of the best measures for preventing an active shooter incident.

An active shooter in your workplace may be a current or former employee, or an acquaintance of a current or former employee.

Intuitive managers and coworkers may notice characteristics of potentially violent behavior in an employee. Alert your supervisor or human resources department if you believe an employee or coworker exhibits potentially violent behavior.

Report violent acts or threats of violence to your immediate supervisor, security or human resources. Regardless of the type of workplace violence, the chances for prevention improve with increased awareness of potential warning signs and rapid response to a problem.

The IS-106: Workplace Violence Awareness Training course offers more information about violence in the workplace, how to recognize the warning signs, and what actions to take to prevent or minimize violence. While this course is designed specifically for FEMA personnel, it is applicable in all work environments. A link is provided at the end of this course.

After an incident occurs, it is important to manage the consequences, and analyze the lessons learned. Post-event activities includes accounting for missing persons, determining a method for notifying families of victims, and referring individuals at the scene for follow-up care including grief counseling.

To facilitate effective planning for future emergencies, it is important to analyze the recent active shooter situation and create an after action report. And these lesson learned should be used to refine the Emergency Action Plan and provide needed training.