Western Carolina University

When there is a threat of criminal violence or an emergency, it may be necessary for you to shelter-in-place. This precaution is to enhance your safety while you remain in your facility. Shelter-in-place means securing your current location by the use of locks, barricades, or means to restrict access to your location. When confronted with an active shooter or other life-threatening situation, remember the word "OUT!"

Get Out!   

• If you hear gunshots or are otherwise alerted to a life-threatening situation, determine if you can safely evacuate the facility.
• If it is possible to do so, leave the facility by the closest exit.
• Be prepared to respond to the commands of arriving law enforcement officers. Remember that responding law enforcement officers will not be able to tell the "bad guys" from the "good guys." Therefore, be prepared to respond to commands such as "show your hands" or "get on the ground."
• Understand that law enforcement officers have been trained to respond to active shooters and other emergencies in a particular way. Do not argue with or ignore the commands from law enforcement officers. These officers issue these commands for their protection and the protection of others.
• Remember that active shooters and other life-threatening incidents are rapidly evolving, fluid events. Public safety and University officials must often make split-second decisions in how they respond to events.
• Go to a predetermined assembly point when you evacuate. This allows for the accountability for all individuals in classrooms or offices.
• Do not re-enter a facility until allowed by a law enforcement officer or University official.

Call Out!

• Regardless of whether you evacuate or shelter-in-place, call for help.
• Call the University's emergency number at 828.227.8911 or the Jackson County Emergency Management Office at 911.
• Be prepared to stay on the telephone line and give your location, a description of the events and their location, and what you see or hear. Also, give your name and telephone number.

Hide Out!

• If you cannot safely evacuate an area, then you should shelter-in-place.
• Stay low to the ground and conceal yourself behind desks or other objects. Understand that concealment is not cover and that bullets may penetrate walls, desks, and other objects.
• If possible, hide behind large desks or other large objects.
• Cover windows so a shooter cannot see into a room.
• Turn out the lights so that people and objects in the room are not illuminated.
• Unless you are calling for help, turn off your cellular telephone and other noise-emitting objects that can reveal your location.

Keep Out!

• Secure your room by locking the door.
• If you cannot lock the door, barricade access by placing a large desk or other object that restricts access to your location. If necessary, stack furniture against the door.
• If necessary, two or more people can hold a table or desk against a door to prevent entry.
• Keep the room secured until law enforcement officers arrive to evacuate you.

Take Out!

• Do not be passive regarding your safety. If a shooter enters your area, be prepared to take him or her out!
• Remember that the only thing a shooter cares about is shooting people.
• Be prepared to move to action. While a shooting event is terrifying, do not let panic and fear control you. One person moving to action can motivate others.
• Do not accept that you are a victim. Do something to facilitate your survival.
• Use books, chairs, and other objects that can be thrown or used to distract or incapacitate a shooter.
• Yell, scream, kick, and punch at the shooter. A shooter may not be prepared for someone fighting back and these actions can take him or her by surprise.
• Work with others in the room to "gang tackle" a shooter and hold him or her until help arrives.

Other Considerations:

Listen to the radio (WWCU-FM), check for text messages, or monitor CatTracker.

If you are outside, take cover until it is safe to enter a facility.

During an emergency, access to certain areas of campus may be restricted. Do not intentionally go to a part of campus where an emergency is occurring. Be aware that some roads may be closed. Wait until you are notified that it is clear to enter the affected area.

Unless you are calling for help, do not use your cellular telephone. Responding public safety officials may need to use the cellular telephone for emergency communications. Too many callers can overwhelm the cellular telephone tower and prevent emergency communications.