October 22, 2008 By August Vernon A rapid, safe and successful
response to a mass shooting incident requires preparation. The
likelihood of a mass shooting is low, but schools, colleges and
public safety officials must prepare for these situations.
Recent mass shootings have demonstrated the need to prepare
local, regional, state and federal resources for these events.
Emergency managers and public safety agencies must adapt to
society's changes so that appropriate delivery of emergency
services is ensured in a crisis. The guidelines and procedures
discussed here should not replace common sense and experience.
It's impossible to plan for every situation that may occur. New
best practices and lessons learned are available on an ongoing
basis. These emergency response plans should be updated
regularly. The goal of this article is to prepare first
responders, emergency managers, school officials and others with
the basic tools and information needed to develop or assess a
multiagency plan for preparing and respo