https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Events
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Events
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Subscribe to GovPro
    • Manage GovPro Subscription
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
acc.com

Commentaries


Commentary

Lessons in emergency alerting for active shooter incidents

Lessons in emergency alerting for active shooter incidents

Thomas Crane, senior solutions consultant at communication technology provider Everbridge, explains how agencies can best use emergency notification systems during active shooter emergencies.
  • Written by contributor
  • 27th June 2018

By Thomas Crane

According to the FBI, an average of 16 active shooter incidents occurred per year from 2007 to 2013—a drastic increase from 6 incidents per year from 2000 to 2006. Research by Everbridge and EMS Solutions reveals active shooter incidents are a growing concern, yet approximately 60% of organizations don’t conduct active shooter drills, and 40% don’t have a communication plan.  

All types of organizations are using emergency notification systems to become better prepared for active shooter incidents. Alert senders must be prepared to quickly send active shooter alerts with the right information, to the right people, in the right ways.
 

Quickly send alerts

According to the FBI, 70% of active shooter incidents end in 5 minutes or less, so it is critical that initial alerts are sent very quickly.

To prepare for these types of incidents, it is important to have standard operating procedures (SOPs) and emergency alert templates that describe what will be communicated for various incidents, and the methods for disseminating information. Be sure to assign the right people to send alerts and assure they have no other responsibilities that will delay them from quickly sending alerts.
 

Right information

Generally, active shooter alerts should include the same types of information as other emergency alerts. According to Dennis Mileti, Ph.D., Director Emeritus of the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado Boulder, public alert and warning messages should include the following: 1) the source, 2) description of the threat (e.g., white, middle-aged man wearing red jacket) and its consequences, 3) location—so that people will know if they’re in the area at risk or not, 4) guidance about what actions to take, how to take them, and how taking those actions reduce the consequences, and 5) message expiration time.

“Details matter,” explains Dr. Mileti. “Many emergency managers assume that alerts should be very short and to the point, but social science research documents that alert recipients are more likely to quickly take protective actions when messages provide  greater detail and are longer than 90 or 140 character messages—two common lengths of alert messages.”
 

Right people

During life-threatening incidents, people in areas affected by the threat are in greatest need of alert information. Many notification systems offer various subscription options for alerts about weather, crime, and more—however, in the case of an active shooter incident, anyone in the area should receive the alert, regardless of their subscription preferences.

Many local governments have access to send Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs), which can alert all (or most) smartphones in the area specified by the alerting authority. Additionally, governments can push alerts to televisions and public radios with the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Both WEA and EAS are capabilities of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), the national alert and warning program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and regulated by the Federal Communications Commission.

Alert senders should consider delivering different messages to people in different areas. People within closest proximity to the incident should receive the message to “run if safe or hide in a secure place…”, whereas, others should be warned to stay away from the area.

The right way

Creating pre-scripted messages that offer simple fill-in-the-blank and multiple-choice fields allows alert senders to quickly and easily write and send alerts.

Alert senders should consider sending the alert via numerous delivery methods—text messages, phone calls, emails, social media posts, mobile app push notifications, and more. Additionally, organizations sending alerts should leverage local media outlets and partners to share their alert message.

It’s also important to remember that while WEAs can reach most people in a specified geographic area, you should consider the environment of the threat, and if the loud alert tone that accompanies WEAs could reveal hiding places of people who are in the area of the incident.

Conclusion

Sending alerts quickly is a great challenge during active shooter incidents. Organizations are better prepared to quickly send alerts if they have a communication plan, SOPs, pre-scripted message templates, assign the right people with appropriate authorities, and keep staff well-trained.
 

Thomas Crane is the senior solutions consultant at Everbridge, a communication technology provider.

 

_____________

To get connected and stay up-to-date with similar content from American City & County:
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
Watch us on YouTube

Tags: News Public Safety Commentaries Commentary

Related


  • Person working on laptop computer
    Embracing digital within local government in 2021
    While COVID-19 has brought on a litany of challenges, it has also shown government leaders the need to employ the right digital solutions for their constituents
  • Signs begging for change
    The 21 neediest American cities in 2021
    Every city has its share of economic issues, but economic disadvantages affects some cities more than others. Is your city among the neediest cities in the U.S.?
  • FirstNet Authority releases new details about impact of Nashville explosion on broadband system
    Public-safety subscribers to FirstNet responding to the Dec. 25 massive explosion near the AT&T network hub in Nashville experienced a four-hour outage when some services were not rerouted prior to deployable cell sites becoming operational at the scene, according to a FirstNet Authority blog. Released Friday evening, the FirstNet Authority blog reiterated several facts previously […]
  • Report: Many governments facing revenue shortfalls due to COVID-19
    A new survey of local governments reveals that 68 percent of responding governments see moderate, significant or major financial adjustments as being needed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The State of Local Government Survey, released by cloud ERP software provider OpenGov in December, reveals the gaps that 501 local governments have found across their […]

Related Content

  • Minneapolis cuts millions from police budget
  • Governments must help consortia drive autonomous progress
  • 2021 is when AI in public safety gets real
  • St. Lucie county adds foam polystyrene recycling program

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

The latest episode The Young Leaders Podcast focuses on Cyril Jefferson. Cyril is the youngest African American to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

27th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

Hillsboro, Oregon is pioneering a new #renewableenergy generation technology through a partnership with… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

27th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

The impact of the #COVID19 pandemic on #telework was swift and profound. Now, the big question is whether – and to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

26th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

Get ready for the can't-miss webinar on how to kickstart your efficiency improvement plan with Luke Anderson of… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

26th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

Among all states headed into the 2020 general election, which ones have voting populations that are the most demogr… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

26th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in our readership survey to help us shape future content so that we c… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

23rd October 2020
AmerCityCounty

See how cities different approaches to distribute masks in their communities >> spr.ly/6010GAPLa

23rd October 2020
AmerCityCounty

While #facialrecognition is a powerful tool that can improve law enforcement efficiency, that doesn’t necessarily t… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

23rd October 2020

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X