PUBLISHED IN ,

Emergency Test to Focus on Active Shooter Response

DukeALERT test is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 21

What to do in the event of an active shooter on campus
Best practices have evolved in recent years for how best to respond if confronted with an active shooter situation on campus. Duke encourages all students, faculty, and staff to review those practices and how to recognize and report warning signs.
Working@Duke Staff @workingatduke

As part of its regular testing of the DukeALERT notification system, Duke is encouraging all students, faculty, and staff to review the guidelines for how to respond in the event of an active shooter on campus.

“Tragically, we continue to see school shootings take place across the country, so we must ensure our students, faculty, and staff understand how to respond should the unthinkable happen on our campus,” said Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for Administration and Duke’s emergency coordinator.  

The test will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 21. The email and text message sent during the test will include a link to the guidelines and a video with recommendations for how to respond in the event of an active shooter on campus. The video also addresses how to recognize and report signs of suspicious or concerning behavior to help prevent violence.

What to do during an emergency

The current guidance for how to respond to an active shooter situation includes the following:

  1. Get Out:
  • Have an escape route and plan in mind.
  • Leave your belongings behind.
  • Keep your hands visible.
  1. Hide Out:
  • Hide in an area out of the active shooter’s view.
  • Block entry to your hiding place and lock the doors.
  1. Take Out:
  • As a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger.
  • Attempt to incapacitate the active shooter.
  • Act with physical aggression and throw items at the active shooter.

The outdoor siren used during emergencies will be included as part of the test. Its siren tone is considered an "all hazards" alert to get the community's attention and will be activated for any type of emergency that requires people to take shelter immediately.

Since this is a functional test of the system, Duke community members do not need to seek shelter or evacuate. Instead, they should take time to understand how they will be notified and what to do during a life-threatening emergency.

Duke community members are also encouraged to download Duke's LiveSafe mobile safety app for real-time, two-way communication with Duke Police. LiveSafe is available for free through Apple and Android app stores.

Note: Post a flier in your area to help promote the test and encourage faculty and staff to register for DukeALERT text messaging.

Follow Working@Duke on Twitter and Facebook.