Basic Procedure
1) Run - try and get away from the area of the shooter(s)
2) Hide - if you cannot get away, try and hide from the shooter(s)
3) Fight - if you cannot avoid the shooter(s), fight for your life
Guidelines for Violent Threat (OSU Libraries & Press)
Call 9-1-1 if safe to do so
Important Links
- Consultation and Referral Resources to use with students of concern (pdf download).
Procedure in Detail
Training Materials
Active Shooter: How to Respond booklet (U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security) (pdf download)
OSU Bridge Training:
Active Shooter in the Library: How to Plan for, Prevent, and Survive the Worst article (Amy Kautzman, Library Leadership & Management) (pdf download)
Active Shooter training videos (warning: some footage may be disturbing)
Active Shooter FAQ
During an Active Shooter Event
What can be used as a weapon/defense tool in the library against an active shooter in a "fight" situation.
Most anything can be used as a weapon in your work environment including staplers, chairs, coffee cups, scissors, laptop computers, phone, monitor, fire extinguishers, etc. Throw things at their head to distract and hurt them, attack to incapacitate. Fight to Survive.
Can library window glass be broken to exit the building?
Yes but only as a last resort if cornered. Breaking the window glass would need excessive force and there is a danger with glass shards. It would also be very noisy possibly attracting attention and there are very few areas in the building where this might be necessary. Overall it would be best to evacuate through emergency exits if possible.
Can all library doors be locked from the inside?
No, many cannot be locked from the inside.
What do I as an individual need to do? What are my responsibilities?
Protecting yourself is your only responsibility. Know where to run, where you can hide, and how you can fight if necessary.
Is there an evacuation assistance area in the building, such as for persons with disabilities?
If everyone in the area is exiting the building, others should help those with disabilities out of the building. If evacuating a person with disabilities is not possible, they should hide, call 541-737-7000 and report their location and situation. Elevators can be used to exit the building if it is safe to do so.
Accounting for Everyone after an Event
How do we account for our coworkers if there is an event on campus?
Supervisors are responsible for accounting for their employees. Each supervisor should organize a plan to account for their employees in an Active Shooter Event.
Do we have a place we should gather to make sure everyone is accounted for?
Our general evacuation procedures do not apply to Active Shooter Events so there are no "staging" areas where departments/units would meet. You should not pre-identify areas to meet or hide as a shooter with inside information may know where that is. You should hide as an individual and if safe you would evacuate the building and find a safe place to go. Emergency personnel may be outside to assist you.
What if we are out and about on campus? If there is an incident somewhere else, do we need to account for the library people out of the building? Should those people come back to the library so we know they're OK?
You should contact your supervisor and keep up on campus alerts. You should have a contact list in your phone of people you can call. Supervisors should have a contact list of all of their employees. Do not try and return to the library - shelter in place if at all possible.
Training and Preparation
Is there training to recognize the sound of gunshots?
The sounds of firearms vary widely depending on the type of weapon, where you are in the building, how the sound travels, and other variables. You may not hear anything at all in a building this size. If you hear something that you think may be a firearm, assume the worst and take preventive measures. Check your phone for alerts. Stay hidden and quiet. Listen for screams and yelling.
What other numbers should I program into my phone so that I can call for help immediately (other than 911?)
- Public Safety 541-737-7000.
- Your supervisors phone number.
- Sign up for OSU Alerts
I guess I don’t feel very prepared at all for this kind of thing and the Run, Hide Fight slogan, while somewhat useful, doesn’t fully help me think how I might actually respond. Where would I run? Where would I hide, how would I fight? I might be a person who needs to do a kind of drill, although I know that is triggering for others.
Drills are not practical for Active Shooter Events due to so many variables. You should think through, as an individual, where you would run (nearest emergency exit), where you would hide (in your work area or in the library), and how you would fight (what objects are available for you to use as a weapon). Feel free to do this with a co-worker.
Policies and Procedures
How does the library lock down the building? What are the procedures?
There is a wiki page that goes into depth on the library's lockdown/lockout procedures.
Does Oregon's law preventing open carry in public buildings apply to OSU buildings and surrounding grounds?
No. Oregon's open carry law only prohibits carrying a gun in public buildings without a handgun license. However, Oregon's laws do allow the State Board of Higher Education broad authority over all of its properties. In general, the internal policy governing firearms for the Oregon University System prohibits possession of a firearm, regardless of possessing a concealed handgun license, on all its properties. This policy can be found on the University's Policies and Standards website.
What do you do if you see someone with a possible weapon on campus?
Call Public Safety at 541-737-7000 immediately with as much descriptive information as possible.