Active Shooter Response - Run, Hide, Fight!

Active Shooter Response – Run, Hide, Fight!
Active shooter incidents unfortunately have become all too common. This webpage provides information on how to react should you find yourself in the middle of such an incident.

Federal, State and Local Partnerships
The City of Wilton Manors and Wilton Manors Police Department (WMPD) have a long and productive history of working with Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies including the Joint Terrorism Task Force concerning the safety of our city, its residents and visitors. Public safety will always be WMPD’s primary focus, and while one’s safety is not assured, with continued training, interagency information sharing and receiving tips from citizens through the "See Something - Say Something" program, our safety can be enhanced!

Accidents, natural disasters, and violence can happen at any time, in any place, and without any warning.  From a parking lot, a bar, a restaurant, a beach, or other public gathering spaces, knowing what to do can be the difference between life and death.  Always be aware of your surroundings, know the nearest exit(s) and pathways of escape, and as always, if you "SEE SOMETHING – SAY SOMETHING!"

Stay Informed During a Critical Incident
Should an active shooter or other critical incident occur, and the need to issue information to the public exists, the WMPD will use Twitter as our primary source to distribute information and direction.  Other social media outlets such as Facebook, Nextdoor and SaferWatch may be used to supplement messaging efforts.

Run, Hide, Fight! – FBI Training Video
This FBI training video demonstrates the three tactics you can use to keep yourself and others safe during an active shooter attack—run, hide, and fight. Learning these principles now will prepare and empower you to put them into practice—and survive—should the unthinkable occur. To access the FBI’s Run, Hide, Fight video, click HERE.

RUN, HIDE, FIGHT! FBI TRAINING VIDEO - CLICK HERE

Responding to an Active Shooter
According to the FBI, an active shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area. These situations have happened in schools, nightclubs, shopping malls, businesses, streets, and other public venues. These situations are dynamic in nature and require immediate action by law enforcement personnel to stop the shooter.

How one responds at an active shooter situation will be determined by the specific circumstances of the encounter. If you find yourself involved in an active shooter situation, try to remain calm and use the following guidelines as a strategy for survival.

If you ever find yourself in an active shooter situation, the simplest thing to remember is Run, Hide, Fight!

Run! Get away from the threat, leave your belongings behind. Evacuate immediately, save yourself, and help others if possible. Call 9-1-1 when safe.

Hide! If evacuation is not possible, find a place where the active shooter is less likely to find you. If you are in a building, find a room where you can lock and barricade yourself inside using any equipment or furniture items. Silence your cell phone and remain quiet.  Call or text 9-1-1 to alert authorities to the situation and possibly to the active shooter’s location.

Think Cover vs. Concealment - Concealment may hide you but cannot stop a bullet, such as curtains. Cover will hide you and may stop a bullet, such as concrete and steel.

Fight! As a last resort and only if your life is in immediate danger, should you attempt to disrupt or incapacitate the active shooter by acting as aggressively as you can. Use any items as a makeshift weapon(s). If you are with others, work together to stop the threat. Whatever you do, commit to your actions.

When an emergency happens, it's natural for people to panic, and to avoid panicking we have to have some sort of a plan. Use this information and review the training video so that you can develop your plan.

What you should expect from law enforcement responding to an active shooter?
 - Police are trained to proceed as quickly as possible to the sound of the gunfire; their purpose is to stop the shooter(s).

 - Officers may be in plainclothes, patrol uniforms or SWAT uniforms armed with long rifles, shotguns and handguns.

 - Do as the officers direct you and keep your hands visible at all times.

 - If possible, tell the officers where the shooter(s) was last seen and a description of the shooter(s).

 - Also, be aware that the first responding police officers will not stop to assist injured people. Others will follow to treat the injured.  First responding officers are trained to proceed as quickly as possible to the gunfire and to stop the shooter(s).

 - Keep in mind that once you are in a safe location, the entire scene is a crime scene. The police usually will not let anyone leave until the situation is completely under control. Police may ask for your statement of what you heard and observed. Please cooperate with the police.

Reunification Center
 - If you are considering responding to the scene of an active shooter to check on your family or friends, PLEASE DO NOT. Your response to         the scene will likely cause law enforcement to redirect law enforcement and other first responder resources away from an active situation.

 - Law enforcement will announce a location for a Reunification Center where you can respond to await more information.  Announcements on the location of the Reunification Center are traditionally issued via social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.), local media and/or website.

Victim Assistance Center
In the days following an active shooter incident, law enforcement may provide victim support services at a Victim Assistance Center. Law enforcement will announce the location of the Victim Assistance Center via social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.), local media and/or website.

FBI Active Shooter Safety Resources
For more information on active shooter safety resources, visit the FBI’s website by clicking HERE.