What to Do in an "Active Shooter" Situation

A regional disaster preparedness video from the City of Houston Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security.

When an active shooter is in your vicinity

If evacuation is not possible....

As a last resort, and if your life is in danger...... the narrator of the video emphasizes.

When law enforcement arrives.

In a February 17, 2013, article, USA Today focuses on the last of these three.  They are meant to be considered in tandem.

Authorities' new advice to schools: Confront shooter.
Study of 84 active shooter incidents between 2000 and 2012

• 25, or 30% of the cases, the shooter ended the attack before the police arrived
• 21 cases where shooter committed suicide
• 4 cases where the shooter fled
• 16, or 19% of the cases,  victims stopped the attacks before the police arrived
• 13 cases attacker was subdued
•   3 cases attacker was shot

The article provides no specifics about the other 51% of the cases.

Active Shooter in the Library by Amy Kautzman.  Library Leadership & Management, 2/1/2011.

• What is an active shooter?
• No surprises
• Follow your gut
• Write behavioral policies
• Best practices/Survivors' mindset
• Prevention/Change the ending of the story
• Training plan/response plan
• Collaboration/Partnerships
• Surviving an active shooter event  (run, hide, but  no mention of fight)