YUBA COUNTY, Calif. — Mass shootings are all too common these days. That's not an observation or an opinion, it's the unfortunate truth.
In fact, the FBI registered 27 active shooter incidents last year in 16 states, a number that is only slightly down from the 30 active shooter incidents in 2017. A total of 85 people were killed and 128 were wounded. The alarming statistics are one of many reasons law enforcement agencies want to be ready, because it’s not a matter of “if” but “when."
“We need to learn how to work together in situations like these, we need to be on the same page,” explained Yuba County Undersheriff Nick Morawcznski.
Preparing for the worst is the goal behind a training exercise in Yuba County today. First responders will learn what to do if there's an active shooter during a 14-hour training at Toyota Amphitheatre in Wheatland, a busy concert venue during the summer.
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The exercise, which is organized by the Yuba County Sheriff’s Department, will include multiple law enforcement agencies from federal, state and local levels, along with emergency services and rescue teams.
The expected outcome of the exercise is evaluating the training, response, communication and lifesaving abilities of the participating agencies. “Personnel will apply their training and then evaluate the operation, see what they can improve on,” Morawcznski said.
A group of more than 200 volunteers were enlisted to simulate a concert crowd and some of them will be made up, using make-up and artificial blood, to indicate severe wounds suffered during a simulated shooting incident.
Law enforcement teams participating in the training will only have partial information about the situation, to reflect what would occur in actual events.
According to Morawcznski, the main focus will be on decision-making, coordination, and integration with other organizations during an active shooter and mass casualty incident.
Morawcznski said they also want to remind everyone that training exercises are not only a learning experience for first responders, but for the general public too.
“They’re a big part of this as well, everyone needs to be on the same page and know what to expect,” Morawcznski said.
In a time period where mass shootings are common, "Run. Hide. Fight." has become a slogan. When faced with an active shooter, Morawcznski says people should try to escape the area or protect themselves. As a last resort, they should always counter the gunman.
Here's what "run, hide, fight" means:
RUN:
First and foremost, Morawcznski prefers people try to get away from the shooter. That means run, “but remember to also be vigilant and aware of the surroundings,” he said. A person should know where the exits are, and if a specific exit is full, seek an alternative.
They should also always be able to visualize how they would get out of a location before a potential mass shooting unfolds, he said.
HIDE:
If running to safety isn’t possible, the next best option is to find cover. Morawcznski says that means hiding behind something that could stop a bullet. It also means taking other necessary precautions like locking or barricading doors, turning off lights and, most importantly these days, silencing cell phones.
FIGHT:
If a person ends up being close to the shooter and is not able to run or hide, Morawcznski recommends the person be prepared to defend themselves. “That means fight — not fairly. Do what you have to do,” he said. “You should be prepared to be aggressive and use whatever you have or can to fend off the attacker. Target the weak points like the eyes, throat and groin,” he added.
You should also be ready to coordinate and cooperate with law enforcement when they respond to an active shooting. “Just remember that [police] don’t know much about what is going on besides the fact that it’s a mass shooting,” he explained. That means first responders don’t have a clear idea of who the shooter(s) is.
“Pay attention to our commands, have your hands in the air so we know you don’t have a fire arm,” he said.
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