County board trains for how to handle shooting in public building

Published 2:28 pm Tuesday, May 14, 2013

The county board and county officials know a little more about what to do if there’s ever a shooting on county property.

County Safety Director Amy Lammey spoke to the county board Tuesday and showed a video on what do if there’s an “active shooter” in a public building — the same training she’s been giving all county employees.

“The reception’s been very good from the employees,” Lammey said.

Email newsletter signup

The video told people stay calm and remember three things: Run, hide, fight.

The best option is to leave personal belongings and run, but only if there’s a back door or window as a safe way to leave the building. If there’s no way out, the next best option is to hide, preferably in a room that can be locked or barricaded with the lights turned off. If that’s not an option, people can hide behind a desk and stay quiet.

The last resort is to fight, and when it comes to that, people would need to improvise weapons and work with physical aggression to disarm the shooter.

Lammey said it’s important for county employees and commissioners to have a plan and be aware of rooms and spaces in case an emergency arose. For example, Lammey said, the county board room would pose some challenges, as the doors open out and would be difficult to barricade.