UP's active shooter plan: Run - Hide - Fight

By The Beacon | October 1, 2015 1:10pm
psafe
Photo by Parker Shoaff.

by Katie Dunn |

Yet another mass shooting has devastated a college community, this time in southern Oregon. Police say a lone gunman opened fire this morning on the Umpqua Community College campus in Roseburg, Oregon. Ten are dead, including the shooter, and another seven are injured. Information is coming out slowly, but it has been confirmed that the gunman was a 20-year-old male.

Planning for statistically unlikely events like this have become a part of life for campus security forces across the country, including UP.

"We think this happens in other places in the world, and here it is in Oregon," Director of  Public Safety Gerry Gregg said. "It's terrible."

Gregg said students should be aware that there is a recommended procedure that the UP community would be advised to follow in this kind of situation. There are three recommended options depending on the situation: Run - Hide - Fight. Gregg specifically asked The Beacon to publish the link to a video that students should watch, "Shots Fired on Campus." Student have to sign in to Pilots to access the video.

Fr. Mark sent out an email regarding the University's procedures today saying:

These incidents raise questions about safety at campuses across the country, and I want to assure you that we take the safety of the University of Portland community very seriously.  We are constantly reviewing our response plans and procedures for emergency situations to ensure that we are as prepared as we can possibly be.
As it relates to an "active shooter" on campus:
1) The University has procedures in place that can be located on the Public Safety webpage:  http://www.up.edu/showimage/show.aspx?file=7283
2) The Office of Public Safety staff regularly receive training in how to respond to this type of incident.
3) The Office of Residence Life reviews responses to these incidents as part of residence hall staff training.
4) The University is currently planning a larger training exercise to prepare for this scenario.
Please do not hesitate to contact the Office of Public Safety if you have additional questions or concerns about our response to or preparation for these situations, or if you observe any unusual behavior that raises safety issues.
The Public Safety website also recommends this protocol in this type of situation:

IN AN ACTIVE SHOOTER EMERGENCY

Make a decision, trust your instincts, and take action to protect yourself to survive the situation. You generally will have three options:

Run – Hide – Fight

RUN FOR SAFETY:

• Have an escape route and plan in mind.

• If you can, and you deem it safe, get out and get to a safe place.

• Leave belongings behind, but take your cell phone if it is handy.

• Help others escape, if possible.

• Prevent others from entering an area where the active shooter may be.

• Call 911 when you are safe.

• Keep hands visible around Law Enforcement.

HIDING IN A SAFE PLACE:

• Find a hidden location, or area, out of the shooter's view.

• Lock the door or block the entry to your hiding place.

• Remain quiet, silence cell phones, and spread out away from other individuals.

FIGHT:

• Make a plan with others in the room about what you will do if the shooter enters.

• Make a total commitment to action and act as a team with others.

• Attempt to incapacitate the shooter.

• Do whatever is necessary to survive the situation.

• If possible, and safe to do so, report the location of the assailant.

HOW TO INTERACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN THEY ARRIVE:

• Do not scream, yell, point, or wave your hands; be quiet and compliant.

• Follow instructions.

• Provide the following information to 911 or Law Enforcement: Location of the active shooter(s). Number of shooters. Physical description of shooter and possible vehicle involved. Number and type of weapons in the possession of shooters. Number of potential victims at the location. The priority of the first responders will be to locate and stop the shooter.

Once you have reached a safe location, 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. Do not leave the area until law enforcement authorities have instructed you to do so.

[graphiq id="kabEzQjN9S5" title="Mass Shootings in the United States" width="600" height="532" url="https://w.graphiq.com/w/kabEzQjN9S5" link="http://visuals.findthebest.com" link_text="Mass Shootings in the United States | FindTheBest"]

 

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