August Vernon

Crisis situations such as school shootings, workplace violence, domestic violence spillover attacks, and other threatening situations appear to be occurring with alarming frequency.

Improvised explosive device (IED) and homemade explosive (HME) attacks can consist of anything from homemade pipe bombs to sophisticated military ordnance; however, emergency service agencies are more likely to encounter IEDs/HMEs than military weapons in their day-to-day responses.

THE NOVEMBER 2008 COMPLEX ATTACKS IN MUMBAI, India; ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan; and the deteriorating narcoterrorism/criminal insurgency situation on the United StatesMexico border these are events U. S. first responders should note, study, and use as the basis for developing effective public safety guidelines.

A rapid, safe, and successful response to a mass-shooting incident requires preparation. First responders at all levels must learn to work together to deter mass-shooting incidents from occurring in their jurisdictions and to safely respond if an attack occurs. This article provides some basic information, tools, and resources to assist in developing or updating multiagency mass-shooting preplans. The likelihood of a mass-shooting incident is low, but public safety officials must be prepared for these situations. Recent mass shootings and active shooting events in the United States and abroad have demonstrated the need to prepare local, regional, state, federal, and military resources for responding to these events.