Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
The second purpose of an alert messaging system is to advise individuals
not
in
the immediate attack/threat area so that they will stay clear of that area. A mes-
sage that issues a “general lock down order” can accomplish this as it advises all
that receive the alert to stay where they are and to lock their doors. In this case,
it is not critical to advise them as to where the actual shooting has occurred. On
the other hand, most will agree that being better informed is the better way to
go, meaning that the lock down order should be accompanied by the location of
where the attack is occurring. The third purpose of the emergency alert system
is to provide one (of several, in most instances) means for issuing usual risk and
related public information messages. This includes informing the audience of the
general situation and advising where to turn to or go (website, radio station, etc.)
for more in-depth official messages. Coordination of the jurisdiction's or organiza-
tions emergency alerting system is an important part of the emergency manager's
preattack preparedness responsibilities, in most organizations.
One of the key duties of any emergency manager is the coordination of a juris-
diction or organization's emergency preparedness planning efforts. Clearly, this
planning should encompass the potential for an active shooter attack. A large part
of this effort should focus on ensuring that organizations provide awareness train-
ing for everyone within its facilities on the active shooter threat as well as actions
they should take should they be confronted with such an emergency. This effort can
be imbedded within existing workplace violence training, and it should be made a
part of the organizations fire drill, bomb scare, and storm emergency procedures.
The emergency manager should consider the following as being important elements
in any such training:
◾
Emergency alert system
◾
Procedures to evacuate or lock down a facility
◾
Indicators of potential violence
◾
Expected emergency response guidance from local law enforcement and
security agencies as applicable
◾
Assurance that the training being provided is consistent with the commu-
nity's established active shooter response procedures
The third preattack mission for the emergency manager is the coordination of
drills and exercises intended to assess procedures and/or to validate preparedness
efforts. In other words, has the organization or community achieved the level of
preparedness to which it has planned and expended resources? In this area, the
exercise might focus on the emergency alert system or how quickly a facility can
“lock down” once it is given an alert or a message to do so. At the other end of
the spectrum, the emergency manager may be tasked with the coordination of a
large, full-scale exercise intended to measure the response of local law enforcement
to a suspected active shooter incident. The emergency manager will need to tailor
the drills or exercises to the locations participating as well as the objectives being
