Public Safety Department

Active Shooter Situation

What is an Active Shooter situation?

An active shooter is an individual or individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area. Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Please see the video and resources below to have a better understanding of how to respond. (DHS Definition)

Run, Hide and Fight are three tactics you can use to keep yourself and other safe during an active shooter incident. These three tactics will prepare and empower you to put them into practice should the unthinkable happen. (FBI website)  

Run, Hide, Fight

RUN

Run Icon

Evacuate if there is an accessible escape path 

  • Have an escape route in mind 
  • Leave belongings behind 
  • Help others escape, if possible, but evacuate if they don’t agree to follow  
  • Keep hands visible 
  • Call 911 when safe  

HIDE

Hide Icon

If you are unable to evacuate, find a place where the active shooter is less likely to find you 

  • Lock the door 
  • Barricade the door with heavy furniture  
  • Silence your cell phone  
  • Remain quiet  

FIGHT

Fight Icon

As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger  

  • Act as aggressively as possible 
  • Use items as weapons to throw at active shooter 
  • Yell 
  • Committing to your actions  
  • Work together with others against the active shooter  

How to act when Law Enforcement arrives

  • Immediately raise hands and spread fingers (put down any items in hands) 
  • Keep hands visible at all times  
  • Remain calm and follow officers directions 
  • Do not stop to ask officers for help or directions when evacuating, just proceed in the direction from which officers are entering the premises

Star Alert

Star Alert (Emergency Notification System) | St. Cloud State University

Star Alert is St. Cloud State University’s emergency notification system. Please ensure you are signed up, and keep your phone number and email updated. Students are automatically enrolled by email and the phone number on file with the university. Faculty and staff have to opt in to receive messages via cell phone. Faculty and staff email address are automatically added.