As of October 2017, the United States has seen 273 mass shootings this year alone.
Due to the recent active shooter events across the US, it is increasingly imperative to create a response plan. In the event of an active shooter scenario, government agencies need to be ready to handle the situation. Discover how emergency notification and response methods can be implemented in emergency response plans for your organization.
Emergency Communication Plans
Did you know the US Department of Homeland Security has established a National Emergency Communication Plan that coordinates communications for response and recovery in the event of a crisis? You can utilize the framework of this plan to devise an emergency communication plan for your own organization. It should include the following goals:
- Leadership for coordination and planning
- Readily available plans and procedures for what to do regarding emergency notification in the case of an active shooter scenario
- Regularly updated training and ongoing exercise programs for executing the plans and procedures
- Operational coordination with the community as a whole
- Ongoing research and development including evaluation of the emergency communication plans
Each of these goals is crucial to the success of any emergency communication plan.
Training Exercises and Emergency Notification
The third goal of the emergency communication plan revolves around ongoing training and exercises. Preparing for the possibility of a mass shooting in your organization’s building or area is a real necessity in this day and age. As stated by the Washington Post, “Mass shootings can happen anywhere, at any time. It’s imperative that everyone knows how to react.” Yet does your organization feature drills and training exercises that include emergency notification solutions?
According to the US Department of Homeland Security training should entail behavioral indicators, attack methods, and actions taken during an attack. This training should also include an emergency action plan that includes notification solutions, such as those provided by OnSolve. The CodeRED solution from OnSolve allows for geo-targeted communication via a time-sensitive approach to get the message out fast about an active shooter situation.
Internal Notification and Resident Notification
In regard to notifying those in the area of an active shooter attack, there are two areas to consider. First, you need to coordinate a plan of communication internally with your staff. This includes a response plan, evacuation routes, and the locations of secure areas. Staff must be trained regularly on how to use the plan in case of an emergency, and the plan must be evaluated and updated regularly.
Second, you must have a resident notification plan in place. This includes methods of sharing information using plain language that is clear and effective for the general public. It should also include more than one communication outlet, such as texting, public radio, email, cell phone, landline, social media, news outlets, etc., in order to reach the greatest number of individuals in the shortest amount of time. Early notification for health care services and facilities is equally as important, so to prepare their teams to manage possible medical care on site.
Emergency Notifications for Communicating Safety Tips
Your organization should also utilize emergency notifications as a way to train the general public for defense against an active shooter. Waiting until the crisis is underway to educate the public regarding strategies for staying alive in this situation is too late. Using an emergency notification system like CodeRED from OnSolve allows you to share tips and strategies far in advance. This allows your team to create an optimal active shooter response plan that best benefits the public at large.
Communicating in Crisis – How Preparedness Leads to Successful Crisis Management
Every organization, whether it is in the public or private sector, needs to evaluate the risks that threaten the lives and property of stakeholders. Communication is a key element of any crisis response plan before, during and after an event occurs.
Download Free TemplateTo learn more about how to get started with OnSolve emergency response solutions, contact our representatives now.
