Crisis Response at SMU

Overview and Training

May 9, 2012

Town Hall

Crisis Response Team

Agenda

• Crisis Response Overview• Active Shooter Training• Active Shooter Walkthrough• Summary/Next Steps• Q&A

Crisis Response Plan

• Part of our ongoing planning for emergencies

• Outlines procedures for managing major emergencies

• Provides a management structure for us to coordinate and deploy resources

• Parallel to ABSMC Crisis Structure

Crisis Response Team

CRT Responsibilities

CRT Role:•Conduct Safety Assessment•Stay Current on Best Practices•Provide Annual Training for SMU Community•Coordinate and Communicate in a crisis•Monitor effectiveness of plan and make ongoing improvements

Process

When the Crisis Response Team assembles, its responsibilities are to:•Determine the scope and impact of the incident•Prioritize emergency actions•Deploy and coordinate resources and equipment•Communicate critical information and instructions •Monitor and re-evaluate conditions•Coordinate with government agencies

We learn every time we run the plan: We assess and improve after each event

SMU ALERT

• The SMU ALERT system delivers critical information to SMU community members on any communication device (phone, email, SMS text, pager, or fax)

• You are strongly encouraged to add more contact numbers

• https://www.samuelmerritt.edu/smu_alert

Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility

The University strongly encourages faculty, staff, administrators, and students to:•Know the Plan, Participants and Process•Educate Others•Participate in Building and LC Plan creation•Be aware of your surroundings•Report security and safety concerns to facilities or security•Maintain own disaster kit

Active Shooter Training

Richard SandersDirector of Security

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center

Crisis Response Team

Active Shooter Training

• Also called Code Silver

The Stats

• March 2011 federal report ranks college faculty and staff just after pre-school teachers as the safest occupations

• Approx 4,200 institutions enrolling some 19.7 million students

• Murders on campus represent <1% of total homicides in US (UV Youth Violence Project) and average campus could experience one every 256 years (Cornell, 2007)

• But…

Active Shooter

Other Active Shooter Incidents

• Oikos University• Virginia Tech University• College and University:

• 2012 (to date): 4• 2011: 26• Since 1999: 69

• Columbine High School, Littleton, CO

• McDonald’s Massacre• North Hollywood Bank Robbery

Lessons Learned

• Active shooter incidents are spontaneous.• Suspects behavior unpredictable.• There is no active or useful profile of the

“school shooter” (US Secret Service and DoE, 2002)

• Pre-incident signs existed in school incidents.

• Incidents occur in a target rich environment.• First responders outgunned and/or didn‘t have

the training to respond to an active shooter situation.

• A tactical intervention was too late.

Definitions

Barricade Suspect

•Suspect is in a position of advantage, usually barricaded in a room or building.•Suspect is armed and has displayed violence.•May or may not be holding a hostage (s)•There is no indication that the suspect(s) activity is immediately causing death or serious bodily injury. The event is not dynamic but rather static.

SMU, ABSMC, OPD and BPD Partnership

• Work together to develop realistic response plans in response to various threats.

• Conduct joint, SMU/ABSMC and police, training sessions to test procedures.

Priorities During an “Active Shooter” Situation

• Protect the lives of Students, Faculty, Staff, family, and visitors/guests.

• Implement Active Shooter (Code Silver) procedures.

• Notify police.

Lockdown or Evacuate?

Lockdown Procedures

• Signal/code• Lock Doors• Safe Area• Account for Students, Faculty,

Staff, Family, Visitors, and Co-Workers

• Do Not Open Door Until Police Arrive

• Communicate

If I Evacuate…

• Only if safe!• Near an exit!• No where in the vicinity of

the Active Shooter

VERY IMPORTANT

• Call 911 and stay on the phone and follow instructions!

• Isolate and evacuate as soon as possible!

• Collect as much information as possible!

• Don’t try to be a hero!! • Allow police first responders

to make contact.

VERY IMPORTANT

• Fear – Automatic reaction to a perceived or real threat or danger. If not controlled, it gives way to panic.

• Panic – An emotional reaction which takes the form of flight, fight, or freeze.

Resolution of an “Active Shooter” Situation

• Most likely by patrol.• Non-traditional response.• Minimum number of officers.• Properly equipped.• Properly trained.• Able to transition to a

barricade situation.

Police Priorities during an “Active Shooter” Situation

• The capture or neutralization of the suspect, as soon as possible.

• The lives of those in proximity of the shooter.

• The lives and safety of citizens in the area.

• The safety of police officers.• Containment.

Police Response to a Barricade Event

• Contain• Control• Communicate• Call SWAT• (4

C ’s)

Active Shooter Walkthrough

Diane Akers

Crisis Response Team

Scenario

It is May 9, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. You are with several students, professors and staff who see a man in the elevator with a gun get off at the second floor at Samuel Merritt University.

Questions

• What do you need to know?• How do you find the

information?• What does your Plan direct?• What are you going to do?

Scenario – 5 minutes later

• Police are arriving and setting up a perimeter. You hear shots fired near the living room.

Questions

• What do you need to know?• How do you find the

information?• What does your Plan direct?• What are you going to do?

Scenario – 5 minutes later

• At least one person has been shot. Media is arriving including several helicopters.

Preventative Resources Available

• Concerns about students: contact VP ESS (John Garten-Shuman)

• Concerns about employees: contact Exec. Dir of HR (Elaine Lemay)

• Training on Recognizing and Working with Distressed Students for Faculty and Departments (Craig Elliott and Jeanne Zeamba)

Support Resources

• Student Counseling (510-869-6629)

• Employee Counseling through Sutter EAP (800-477-2258)

• Consult with Dir of Counseling (x1516) on student concerns

• Consult with Dir of Facilities (x8785) on Safety and Security concerns

Summary/Next Steps

• Training on the Plan at Learning Centers and Departments

• Training on Distressed Students available on request

• Annual Training for the University

• Smaller Crisis specific programs throughout the year.

• Updating Plan REGULARLY

Questions

Thank You