LOCKDOWN TRAINING Our ‘new normal’

 Most have practiced fire drills since childhood. Few know what to do when faced with someone indiscriminately shooting and killing people.

 Schools, businesses and hospitals nationwide are now preparing for that very thing.

 Recently shootings have occurred at a church in Wisconsin, a workplace in Milwaukee, a theatre in Colorado, the first day of high school in Mary land (2012) and the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown Connecticut (Dec. 2012, 20 children and 6 adults murdered. Our ‘new normal’

 This has become our “new normal” It doesn’t just happen somewhere else. It is everywhere!

 There are no guarantees, but at least thinking about what to do in a violent situation and rejecting the notion this will never happen to me is a good first step. We can’t ignore it. We must prepare for it . It has happened here… it can happen again

 April 2007: Stalker Jonathan Rowan shot and killed his ex-girlfriend Rebecca Griego in her office at the University of Washington before killing himself.

 October 2008:15-year-old student was shot and killed behind Garfield High School in Seattle. A 20-year-old was later charged with murder.

 February 2010: 30-year-old Jed Waits, of Ellensburg, stalked and fatally shot Jennifer Paulson, a special-education teacher at Birney Elementary School in Tacoma. Waits later died of a self-inflicted gunshthot wound . It has happened here… it can happen again

 September 2011: 51-year-old Ronald Flicker was killed in a shootout with police on the groundfClkEltds of Clark Elementary School in Issaquah.

 February 2012: 8-year-old student was critically injured at Armin Jahr Elementary School in Bremerton when a gun in a classmate's backpack went off. Lockdown: What is it?

A lockdown is an established response plan implemented by a workplace building which is put into effect once there is a perceived or actual threat from an external or internal source. Lockdown: What is the pppurpose?

The purpose of a lockdown is to move staff, clients and visitors into the nearest secured area to minimize their exposure to a potenti al threa t wh e ther internal or external. Two types of lockdown

Full lockdown

 Occupants remain out of sight and as quiet as possible, with only limited authorized entry, exit, or movement within the building.

 Occupants in corridors , common areas, or unsecured areas move quickly to the nearest secured area. Two types of lockdown

Full lockdown (cont ’ d)

 Occupants must stay where they are and may not exit or enter a room.

 Often times when a potential outside threat has been identified a “full lockdown” is initiated until more information is gathered and it can determine with reasonable certainty that a “modified lockdown” is more appro priate.

 This information typically comes from local police. Two types of lockdown

Modified lockdown  Occupants of a facility are isolated from potential outside threats by remaining within a building with exterior doors and other exits secured.  En try and exit f rom th e b uildi ng is lim ite d to that which is authorized.  Interior movement and other activities within the building may be allowed or restricted in accordance to the lockdown plan. Two types of lockdown

Modified lockdown (cont ’ d)

 Visitors should report to the office immediately.

 Do not cover interior windows so that you may see who is knocking at your door. Examples of lockdown situations

 Police activity that poses a potential threat to a nearby business or agency.  If there has been a serious crime (weapons involved etc.) near the area of a school there is almost always a lockdown initiated by the police.  If there is information about someone believed to be on thei r way to a b us iness w ho may be a threa t to s ta ff (D/V related incident, gang drive-by, suicidal client, etc.).

 Armed intruder either inside the building or outside the building.  Actual or perceived threat to building occupants including clients, staff and visitors . Lockdown processes

 Who can place building into lockdown (front office staff, administrators, etc)?

 From wh at l ocati on s (Wh at if th e thr eat i s in th e front office?)

 What methods (automated alert syy,stem, air horn, P.A./intercom, etc.)

 What’s your back up plan? Clear langgguage vs coded announcement

Accurate, Brief, Clear communication is best!

 Temps/vendors/visitors don’t know the code.  Most staff members forget the code.  Ulld’tkithllitiUsually doesn’t work with large listening audiences.  The suspect knowing doesn’ t really matter since he’s already upset! Lockdown Announcement

 Post yo ur lockdo w n message by a phone in a safe location and designate a person to read it during a lockdown.

 Announcement should be repeated i.e., “Attention staff, go to full lockdown.”

 Large meeting rooms may not hear the “lockdown” announcement. A flashing lockdown light or staff may need to alert them. Plan for this.

 Front office person near outside doors to post lkdlockdown s igns iffif safe

Lockdown sigggnage

If safe to do so, post lockdown signage:

 Should be posted on all doors that might be used as an entry door for visitors  Should have clear, strong language that warns visitors of a lockdown

 Should give direction to visitors to leave the area immediately

 Should show how visitors will receive updates  Should show the authority for the directive

 Should show possible consequences for not complying with the directive Visitors

 Visitors and clients alreadyyg in the building will be assisted in locking down with staff.

 Arriving visitors will notice signs posted on doors and on reader boards if available, advising of a lockdown with instructions to leave the building imme ditldiately.

 Law enforcement expects your full cooperation by comply ing w ith these instru ctions.

 During a police response, every second counts. Lockdown procedures

 Print ppgrocedures on the back of a window covering or in a folder by the door - easy to find for anyone in the room and easy to carry and refer to.

 Staff near out sid e d oors, must l ock out sid e doors an d sweep bathrooms (Know your assignment and help other staff).

 Lock doors and bring any clients and visitors in with you (Pause to look for threat)

 Staff should enter the closest locked room upon the announcement of a full lockdown. DO NOT travel. Lockdown procedures (()cont’d)

 Cover door window with window strip  Turn off lights  Close room blinds/window coveringgys and stay clear of the windows  Staff, clients and visitors are to sit calmly away from th e wi n dows /doors (usua lly on the door wall side of the room) – spread out (don’t huddle in a mass group)  Use furniture to assist with cover and concealment Lockdown procedures (()cont’d)

 Staff, clients and visitors are expected to keep their cell phones put away and silenced.

 If possible to do so safely, one person should call 911 (cell phone or land line.)

 It can be helpful for calls to 911 for the purpose of iden tify ing the suspec ts, the ir las t known loca tion and information about weapons (how many and what type etc. ) Lockdown procedures (()cont’d)

 Unnecessaryyg texting and callin g to friends and family off site usually creates more problems for first responders.

 Take roll call when safe to do so (pass paper/pencil around)

 Admin email staff/client list:  Include All Office and Admin (should create a “lockd own ” ema il group ) Lockdown procedures (()cont’d)

Assess your situation - While in the process of locking down, if you are faced with a threat, RUN  Run in the opposite direction  Run to the nearest room  Run to an office  If inside, this may mean run out the nearest exit but know where the exit leads  If outside, this may mean staying outside and run to an adjacent school, business, residence etc. Lockdown procedures (()cont’d)

 Do not open door

 Do not evacuate the building if the fire alarm sounds un less there is imm inen t fire danger

 If an intruder enters the area you are in, direct people to run a w ay from the intruder . Escape the situation.

 If gunshot(s) or explosion(s) are heard, get low or flat on the floor, Quickly evaluate what is happening. Where is the threat coming from. Prepare to move quickly to cover or flee the area Preppgare to Fight

 If you need to fight, what is your plan of attack?  Be aggressive for as long as it takes  Strength in numbers  Know your facility. What can you use as a weapon?  Stapler  Books  Toys  Broomstick  Camera This is not a duck and cover drill

People who duck and cover near the shooter are at greater risk of dying.

People who run stand a greater chance of getting away from the shooter.

90% o f Co lum bine ’s popu la tion evacuated. Know yygour building environment

 Door locks can be different from room to room

 Exterior doors are often “barred”  Know how to tell if the barred door is in the locked position

 KhKnow how your dlkdoor locks opera tdtite and practice  Do you have to “key” your lock from the outside?  DhthblkDo you have a thumb lock Post lockdown notification

 People are to stay where they are until an “All Clear” announcement is given by identified office/staff

 Briefly notify clients and staff of the event. Reassure them of their safety and give positive feedback for their efforts and cooperation.

 Be ppprepared to release good information to the ri ght peo ple to quash rumors and eliminate fear, frustration and panic.

 Notify board members and other administrators imme dia te ly w ith as muc h de ta il as poss ible. If we don ’t, they will get their information from other (possibly not credible) sources. Police response evacuation considerations

 Follow your building’s evacuation plan.

 If you see l aw enforcement officers, make yyyour way to them.

 Keep your hands visible at all times and obey all commands. Police response evacuation considerations

 Don’t be surprised when the good guys stop you at gunpoint (They don’t know who the bad guy is yet).

 Provide suspect in formati on if possible. Planning considerations

 Develop a “Go Kit. ”

 Incident Command - What are Your Roles?

 Coor dina te a p lan w ith loca l po lice for communications.

 Do you ge t ce llu lar p hone recep tion ins ide your facility?

 Keep employee database up to date with current phone numbers to key staff. Key/access plan

Have a keyyp/access plan for local police:  If you are locked down, can police gain tactical entry to your building using keys or access cards?  Keys in Knox box do not allow for safe tactical entry  Hand to hand pass off of keys from administration may btbe too time consum ing an d no t re liblliable - this should be seen as one of many options  It’s not reasonable to ask a staff member in lockdown to expose themselves to danger to allow police access to facility Needs considerations

Plan for special needs of clients, staff and visitors.

It may be necessary to provide a police escort out of the building for someone who needs medications or has other special needs.  Medical needs  MtlhlthdMental health needs  Provisions for long term lockdown (portable toilet, ppyp,rivacy tarp, bottled water ) Awareness of procedures by stakeholders

 Educate staff, clients and parents about lockdown procedures: Newsletters Websites Client and staff orientations  When we bring awareness to lockdown ppp,q,rocedures we help eliminate fear, questions, and frustrations while providing better chances for a successful Lockdown. Practice Freqqyuently

Drill 1: Talk it through then walk it through Drill 2: Remind staff of prior lockdown drill and practice another within the week unannounced Drill 3: Unannounced drill transitioning from lockdown to modified lockdown Drill 4: Unannounced drill during hectic time Questions?