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Active Shooter
An active shooter is defined as an armed person who has used deadly force on people and continues to do so while having unrestricted access to additional victims. Although active shooter incidents on college campuses are rare events, the shootings which occurred on the Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University campuses demonstrate that faculty, staff and students should be ready for any type of emergency.
If you witness any armed individual or shooter on campus at any time, immediately call 9-1-1 and University Police at 777-3491 (if you cannot get through by phone and have e-mail capability, you can e-mail University Police), providing each dispatcher with the following information:
- Your Name
- Nature of the incident
- Location of the incident
- Description of person(s) involved
- Number of persons who may be involved
- If shots have been fired
- Injuries to anyone, if known
Assist the officers when they arrive by supplying them with all additional information and ask others to cooperate.
Should gunfire, weapons, or explosives be involved, avoid the incident. Take cover. Leave your cover, or seek first aid for the injured only when completely safe. Call 9-1-1 and University Police at 777-3591.
If the Shooter is Outside the Building
- If it is possible to flee the area safely and avoid danger, do so. Notify anyone you may encounter to exit the area immediately. Evacuate to a safe area away from the danger and take protective cover. Stay there until assistance arrives.
- Dial 9-1-1, then call University Police at 777-3491.
- Go to the nearest room or office, or core area of the building, if safe to do so.
- Barricade doors and block windows.
- Turn off all the lights, close blinds and close and lock all windows and doors.
- Seek protective cover for yourself and any others (concrete walls, thick desks, filing cabinets may protect you from bullets).
- Keep occupants calm, quiet and out of sight.
- Silence cell phones.
- Do not answer the door.
- Place signs in exterior windows to identify the location of injured persons.
- Remain where you are until an "all clear" instruction is given by an authorized known voice.
- If faculty, staff or students do not recognize the voice that is giving instructions, they should not change their status (stay put). Unknown or unfamiliar voices may be false and designed to give false assurances.
If the Shooter is Inside the Building
- If it is possible to flee the area safely and avoid danger, do so. Notify anyone you may encounter to exit the building immediately. Evacuate to a safe area away from the danger and take protective cover. Stay there until assistance arrives.
- Dial 9-1-1, then call University Police at 777-3491.
- If it is impossible for you to leave, secure yourself in your space.
- Barricade doors and block windows.
- Turn off all the lights, close blinds and close and lock all windows and doors.
- Seek protective cover for yourself and any others (concrete walls, thick desks, filing cabinets may protect you from bullets).
- Keep occupants calm, quiet and out of sight.
- Silence cell phones.
- Turn off radios and computer monitors.
- Do not answer the door.
- Place signs in exterior windows to identify the location of injured persons.
- Remain where you are until an "all clear" instruction is given by an authorized known voice.
- If faculty, staff or students do not recognize the voice that is giving instructions, they should not change their status (stay put). Unknown or unfamiliar voices may be false and designed to give false assurances.
If the Shooter Comes into Your Class or Office
- There is no one procedure the authorities can recommend in this situation.
- Attempt to get the word out to other faculty or staff, and call 9-1-1 and University Police at 777-3491, or email University Police if that seems practical.
- Use common sense. If hiding or leaving the area is impossible, attempt to negotiate with the individual.
- Attempting to overcome the individual with force is a last resort that should only be initiated in the most extreme circumstances.
- Remember, there may be more than one active shooter.
- In a shooting incident, the University Police are in charge until Grand Forks Police or other law enforcement personnel are on the scene.
- Be careful not to make any changes to the scene of the incident since authorities will investigate the area later.
- In case you must flee, do not go to the normal gathering site for your building. Get as far away from the shooting scene as possible and then contact authorities.
In the Event You are Taken Hostage or Held Against Your Will
- Avoid heroism and drastic action. In all probability, your captors do not want to harm you.
- The initial 45 minutes are the most dangerous. Don't speak to your captors unless spoken to. Avoid appearing hostile, but maintain eye contact with the captor without staring.
- Do not expect the captor to behave rationally. Don’t do anything to aggravate your captor. Comply with instructions as best you can. Avoid speculation as to the outcome of the situation. Avoid arguments.
- Try to rest. Try to maintain a calm, composed attitude. This will help to calm other captives and insure their safety.
- Be alert. You may need to react quickly to changes in the situation or the efforts of the authorities to release you.
- You will need to give descriptions of your captors. Learn all you can about them and notice as many details about their character, clothing, voice, build, etc.
- If medications, first aid, or rest room privileges are needed by anyone, request them.
Video courtesy of The University of Georgia Office of Security & Emergency Preparedness