Emergency Preparedness:

To report an emergency call: (310) 434-4300 or dial 911

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Active Shooter Situations

The Santa Monica College Police Department has adopted nationally accepted law enforcement response procedures to contain and terminate such threats. The following information regarding law enforcement response will enable you to take appropriate protective actions for yourself. The following instructions are intended for incidents that are emergency in nature (i.e., imminent or in progress).

If an active shooter situation develops, Santa Monica College will implement its emergency response plan and alerts will be sent out via the Connect Ed Notification System, E Mail, and Telephonic Message System for instructions to staff and students. Santa Monica College Police and the City of Santa Monica Police Department will work together to manage the incident.

Active Shooter Defined - One or more subjects who participate in a random or systematic shooting spree, demonstrating their intent to continuously harm others. An active shooter is a person or persons who appear to be actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people, most often in heavily populated areas. In most cases active shooters use firearms and display no pattern or method for selection of their victims. Active shooter situations are dynamic and evolve rapidly, demanding immediate response and deployment from law enforcement and emergency personnel to stop the shooting and prevent further harm to the community.

In general, how you respond to an active shooter will dictate the circumstances of the encounter. If you find yourself in an active shooter situation, try to remain calm and call the College Police at 310-434-4300 or dial 911 as soon as possible.

First and foremost – Take Immediate Protective Actions:
· Try not to do anything to provoke and active shooter!
· Quickly clear students, staff, and faculty from the area. Try to warn others to seek cover.
· Close and lock all doors to offices and classrooms, turn off the lights, close blinds and hide.
· If you door cannot be locked from the inside, stack desk, tables, and chairs to form a barricade.
· Have everyone get down on the floor, or up against a solid interior wall, and shelter in place.
· To prevent confusion have one person call the police and provide the following information:
  A description of the suspect(s), sex, race, clothing, type of weapon, location last seen, and direction of travel, 
  -Identify – if known.
· If you are in the open and unable to find a room to lock down, run away from the sound of the gunfire and out
  of site.
· Turn off cell phones or lower ring tone. Place cell phone to vibrate if possible.
  -Devises that omit sound will attract attention to your location.
· If you observed any victims, give a description of the location and number of victims.
· Attempts to rescue people should only be attempted if it can be accomplished without further endangering
  the persons inside the secured area.
· Depending on circumstances, consideration may be given to exiting ground floor windows as safely as possible.
· If there is no possibility of escape or hiding and only as a last resort should you make an attempt to negotiate
  with or overpower the assailant(s).

What to Do If Taken Hostage
· Be patient. Avoid drastic action. The first 45 minutes are the most dangerous. Be alert and follow the
  Hostage takers instructions.
· Don’t speak unless spoken to and then only when necessary.
· Avoid arguments or appearing hostile towards the captor. Try to develop a rapport with the captor.
  -It is probable that the captor(s) do not want to harm anyone.
· Be observant, you may be released or be able to escape.
· You may be able to help others with your observations by providing law enforcement officers with 
  valuable information.· Be prepared to speak to law enforcement personnel regarding the situation.

What to Expect From Responding Police Officers
  The objectives of responding police officers are:
· Immediately engage or contain the active shooter(s) to stop life threatening behavior
· Identify threats such as improvised explosive devices
· Identifying victims to facilitate medical care, interviews and counseling
· Investigation

Police officers responding to an active shooter are trained to proceed immediately to the area in which shots were last heard in order to stop the shooting as quickly as possible. The first responding officers may be in teams; they may be dressed in normal patrol uniforms, or they may be wearing external ballistic vests and Kevlar helmets or other tactical hear. The officers may be armed with rifles, shotguns, or handguns. Regardless of how the police appear or sound, do not be afraid of them. Do exactly as the officers instruct. Put down any bags or packages you may be carrying and keep your hands visible at all times; if instructed to lie down, do so. If you know where the shooter is, tell the officers. The first officers to arrive will not stop to aid injured people. The first responding officers will be focused on stopping the active shooter and creating a safe environment for medical assistance to be brought in to aid the injured. Keep in mind that even once you have escaped to a safer location, the entire area is still a crime scene; police will usually not let anyone leave until the situation is fully under control and all witnesses have been identified and questioned. Until you are released remain at whatever assembly point authorities designate.

Reporting a Threat
While shootings in schools are rare episodes, when they occur, they are often devastating.  As an institution of higher learning, it is important for Santa Monica College Police to view these types of incidents with the appropriate perspective.  Since 1966, there have been 89 shooting deaths at U.S. universities and college campuses; Virginia Tech was the largest.  Compare that to the approximately 1,100 that commit suicide on college and university campuses every year, or the 1,400 to 1,700 alcohol-related deaths on college and university campuses each year. 

Despite shootings on campuses being rare, we as a community must be vigilant and prepared.  It is important to note a few facts about these types of shootings.  The Secret Service has studied the 30 major shooting incidents that have taken place at schools (elementary through college) since 1974.  They found remarkable similarity in them.  First, almost all of the individuals who have committed these crimes have been male, and were known for being isolated socially.  Almost all of them planned out their actions in advance, and over three quarters of them actually shared their plans with others before putting them into effect.  Unfortunately, in only two cases did anyone report the plan to authorities before the attack.  With these facts in mind, it is critically important that members of our community report threats and potential threats in a timely manner.

If you believe an individual poses an imminent threat to a member or members of the University community, please contact our College Police immediately.  If you are located at a graduate campus and believe imminent danger is likely, please contact 911 immediately and then contact the Department of Public Safety.   If you do not believe that harm is imminent, but an individual’s behavior seems threatening or seems like it could lead to harm to the individual or to the community, you should report the concern.  If you are a student or a faculty member, contact College Police or your dean’s office.  If you are a staff member or other member of the community, contact Public Safety or the local police.  It is better to err on the side of notifying the appropriate individuals than to remain silent; the institution has resources with which to assess these situations and the individual of concern.  If you have any questions, please contact your College Police Department.         

Active Shooter presentation >>>   

• Contact College Police at 310.434.4300 or dial 911.
• Give your name, location, and telephone number. Do not hang up until the dispatcher tells you to do so. Advise the dispatcher of the situation and remain where you are until contacted by an officer unless you deem your location unsafe.
• If a hostile intruder is discovered in your immediate area, and you deem it unsafe to evacuate, retreat to a secure location such as an office or room that can be locked. Turn off lights, remain quiet, keep low to the ground and hide behind a desk or other furniture
• Do not attempt to apprehend or interfere with the suspect except for self-protection.
• If safe to do so, stop and take time to get a good description of the criminal.  Note height, weight, sex, race, approximate age, clothing, method and direction of travel, and his/her name, if known. If the suspect is entering a vehicle, note the license plate number, make and model, color, and outstanding characteristics. All of this takes only a few seconds and is of the utmost help to the investigating officers.
• In the event of civil disturbance, continue inasmuch as possible with your normal routine. If the disturbance is outside, stay away from doors and windows.  Do not interfere with those persons creating the disturbance or with authorities on the scene.

• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Note suspicious items, packages, or vehicles that seem out of place and report them to the appropriate authorities.
• Note suspicious activities or behaviors and report them to the appropriate authorities.

Potential targets recognized by the U.S. Government: 

• Airports, seaports, and harbors
• Major cities or landmarks
• Large crowds
• Infrastructure such as power plants, transportation centers, or communication centers
• Business and industrial centers such as Wall Street or a World Trade Center

Types of terrorist attacks

• Explosive devices cause detonations which throw debris into the air and start fires.  Explosive devices can be left in place and detonated remotely or carried by a vehicle or even an individual.  Explosive devices are used in most terrorist attacks.
• Biological agents such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins typically make people sick.
• Chemical agents are toxic to people, plants, or animals, and are found in the form of solids, liquids, vapors, or aerosols.
• Radioactive attacks include nuclear explosions and “dirty bombs.”  A “dirty bomb” is designed to spread radioactive material over a region. 

Protective measures to implement following a terrorist incident:

• Distance yourself from the location of the incident and seek shelter as soon as possible. 
• Follow instructions from College Police or public agency personnel.
• If exposed to a chemical agent or if you have trouble breathing, use your clothing as a simple filter by covering your face and breathing through your clothing. 
• If exposed to a chemical, biological, or radioactive agent, change out of any contaminated clothing, shower, put on clean clothing, and seek medical attention as soon as possible.   
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible for any injuries, if you have trouble breathing, or believe you were exposed to a contaminating agent.

• Do not move a seriously injured person unless there is a life threatening situation.
• Contact College Police at 310.434.4300 or  dial 911.
• Give your name, location, and telephone number. Give as much information as possible regarding the nature of the injury or illness, whether or not the victim is conscious, etc. Do not hang up until directed to do so by the emergency operator.
• Return to the victim, administer first aid, and keep the victim as calm and comfortable as possible.
• Remain with the victim until emergency personnel arrive.

• During an emergency, request assistance from those nearest you. If no one is there to render assistance, proceed to the nearest stairway landing, and shout for help.
• As a first choice, use the building elevator, BUT NEVER IN THE CASE OF FIRE, EARTHQUAKE OR POWER OUTAGE.
• If assistance is not immediately available, continue to call for help until rescued. Individuals who cannot speak loudly should carry a whistle or have other means of attracting the attention of others.
• Rescue personnel, Public Safety, Emergency Response Teams, Fire and Police Departments will first check all exit corridors and exit stairwells for trapped persons.
• Consultation about these procedures is available from your campus’s Department for Students with Disabilities.

• Contact College Police at 310.434.4300 or dial 911
• If toxic chemicals come in contact with your skin, immediately flush the affected area with clear water for at least 15 minutes. Use chemical showers if available.
• If you can give responders information as to the chemicals involved or stored in the affected area, it will help them respond more quickly. 
• If possible, notify your professor of the extent and location of the spill.If there is any possible danger, evacuate your area immediately. 

If a chemical fire occurs: 

• Remain calm.
• If time permits, close windows in the room where the fire is located. Close the door behind you as you leave, and immediately sound the building fire alarm. 
• Contact College Police at 310.434.4300 or dial 911. 
• If you can give responders information as to the chemicals involved or stored in the affected areas, it will help them respond more quickly. 
• If the fire is large, very smoky, or rapidly spreading, evacuate the building immediately. Inform others in the building who may not have responded to the alarm to evacuate immediately. The alarm may not sound continuously. If the alarm stops, continue to evacuate. Warn others who may attempt to enter the building after the alarm stops.  ALWAYS EVACUATE A BUILDING IF THE ALARM IS SOUNDING. 
• When fire alarms sound, do not use the elevators. An elevator may become a trap. Give assistance to (help carry, if necessary) all disabled persons in using the stairs. 
• Relocate to your designated assembly area, which should be a distance of at least 500 feet from the building, and stay out of the way of emergency personnel. Do not return to the building until instructed to do so by Public Safety or public agency personnel.
• Notify either Public Safety personnel or firefighters on the scene if you suspect that someone may be trapped inside the building. 
• Unless you have been trained specifically in fighting hazardous material fires, do not attempt to extinguish the fire. 

• Contact College Police at 310.434.4300 or dial 911.  
• Give your name and the location of the fire. Do not hang up until the dispatcher tells you to do so.  
• If the fire is small, you may wish to fight it with a fire extinguisher or building fire hose. Be sure you are using the proper extinguisher for the type of fire you are fighting. If you are not sure, read the instructions on the extinguisher.
• If the fire is large, very smoky, or spreading rapidly, leave the building immediately and report to the designated emergency staging location. Inform others in the building who may not have responded to the alarm to leave immediately. The alarm may not sound continuously.  Even if the alarm stops, continue to evacuate the building and warn others who may attempt to enter the building. ALWAYS EVACUATE A BUILDING IF THE ALARM IS SOUNDING.  
• If time permits, turn off computers, unplug electrical equipment, take your purse or wallet, and close windows and doors before leaving. 
• If you have a mobility impairment, request assistance from those nearest you. If no one is there to render assistance, proceed to the nearest stairway landing, and shout for help. Consultation about these procedures is available from the College Police Department.
• When fire alarms sound, do not use the elevators. An elevator may become a trap. Assist (help carry, if necessary) all disabled persons in using the stairs. 
• If there is a closed door in your exit path, touch the door lightly with the back of your hand to ensure it is not warm. If it is not warm, open slowly.  Be prepared to close the door quickly if smoke or flames are present.  
• If there is smoke in your only exit path, crawl on hands and knees, keeping your head as close to the ground as possible to avoid inhaling toxic fumes.
• Relocate to your designated assembly area, which should be a distance of at least 500 feet from the building, and stay out of the way of emergency personnel.
  
  

• If indoors, stay there.  Get under a desk or table and hold on, or stand in a corner or doorway that does not have doors on it (do not go in a doorway with doors; they can swing back and forth violently). Protect your head, neck, and face.
• If driving, pull over to the side of the road and stop. Avoid overpasses and power lines. Stay in the vehicle until the shaking is over.
• If in a high-rise building, stay away from windows and outside walls. Get under a desk or table and hold on. Do not attempt to use elevators.
• If in a crowded public place, do not rush for the doors. Move away from windows and shelves containing objects that could fall.
• After the shaking subsides, turn off computers; unplug electrical equipment; replace telephone handsets; go outdoors; and stay clear of buildings, walls, power lines, and trees.
• Follow the procedures in this manual for Fire, Hazardous Materials, and Serious Injuries as necessary.
• Identify and assist the injured.
• Keep phone lines clear except when necessary to report serious hazards or injuries.
• Do not return to an evacuated building unless directed to do so by College Police or public agency personnel.
• It is possible that roads will be blocked and impassable. Be prepared to stay where you are for a few hours or for several days depending upon your location.

• Remain calm.
• Contact College Police at 310.434.4300 or dial 911
• Give your name, location, and telephone number. Advise the dispatcher or coordinator of the situation and of any additional locations that are without power. The dispatcher or coordinator will immediately notify the appropriate department or agency of the outage.
• Provide assistance to other individuals in your immediate area.
• Secure files, turn off computers, unplug electronic equipment, and lock windows and doors as you leave.
• If you are in an unlit area, proceed cautiously to an area that has emergency lights.
• If you are trapped in an elevator, remain calm. Use the intercom, emergency telephone, or emergency call button. Public Safety officers, or the fire department, will be dispatched to your location for assistance.
• Stand by for instruction from your coordinator or from Public Safety personnel.

• Windstorms severe enough to cause damage may occur at infrequent intervals and may be accompanied by torrential rains.
• At the time of warning of impending severe winds, property and equipment not properly anchored should be moved inside a building or tied down. Close windows.
• The best protection in severe winds is in permanent buildings. As a result, steps will be taken to ensure the safety of students/personnel within buildings rather than to evacuate.
• Time permitting, students in temporary structures will be moved to a permanent structure.
• Immediately after the cessation of severe winds, Facilities Management & Planning and Public Safety will inspect the campus for damage.

• Contact College Police at 310.434.4300 and advise them of the problem.
• Advise the dispatcher, or the coordinator, of the location and severity of the leak. Indicate whether any valuables, art collections, or books are involved, or are in imminent danger. (Public Safety or the graduate campus coordinator will notify the appropriate authorities and dispatch officers to assist.)
• If there are electrical appliances or electrical outlets near the leak, use extreme caution. If there is any possible danger, evacuate the area.
• If you know the source of the water and are confident of your ability to stop it (i.e., unclog the drain, turn off water, etc.), do so cautiously.
• Be prepared to assist, as directed, in protecting College and personal property that is in jeopardy. Take only those steps that are needed to avoid or reduce immediate water damage: cover large objects with plastic sheeting; carefully move small or light objects out of the emergency area.   

• Find out where the nearest two or three shelters are likely to be located.
• Discuss your planning with friends/roommates/local family members.
• Identify alternate meeting places in case of separation.
• Establish a contact person from outside California.
• Make sure all family members carry the telephone number of the contact and understand the importance of checking with that person if the family is separated during a disaster.
• Alert family members outside the area of your plans.
• Make arrangements for special needs.
• Store sufficient personal survival supplies (see suggested list below).
• Store supplies to sustain you during relocation (see suggested list below).

Suggested Personal Survival Supplies for your Vehicle:

• Food and water for up to three days.
• Blankets
• First Aid Kit
• Flashlight and batteries
• A change of clothes
• Comfortable walking shoes

Suggested Items for Relocation:

• Bedding
• Flashlights
• Batteries
• Games, books
• Medications
• Special dietary foods
• Valuable papers
• Treasured photographs
• Telephone lists
• Photo ID with home address
• Pens and paper
• Personal hygiene supplies (e.g., toothbrush, soap, contact lens solution, sunscreen)
• Change of clothes
• Comfortable walking shoes

Do NOT Bring to Relocation Shelter

• Candles
• Heating devices
• Beds or furniture

After a Disaster:

• Locate any missing friend/roommate/family member.
• Advise out-of-area contact of your status.
• Use safety glasses, leather gloves, etc., when working.
• Exercise extreme caution when entering damaged buildings.
• Exercise extreme care with fire.
• Do not ignite matches or candles if gas leak may be possible.
• Avoid electrical appliances where there is water.
• Stay away from power lines.
• Check water and food before consumption.
• Monitor and obey directives from government and campus officials.
• If you have telephone service, use it only for emergencies.