Active Shooter Preparedness

Overview

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, “active shooter” is defined as “one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area." Active shooter incidents are often unpredictable and evolve quickly. Amid the chaos, anyone can play an integral role in mitigating the impacts of an active shooter incident.

In many cases, there is no pattern or method to the selection of victims by an active shooter, and these situations are by their very nature unpredictable and evolve quickly. Because active shooter situations are often over within 10 to 15 minutes - before law enforcement arrives on the scene - individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation.

CISA’s Role  

CISA aims to improve incident preparedness by employing a comprehensive community-wide strategy. It offers a range of no-cost products, tools, training, and resources to diverse stakeholders, supporting their efforts to effectively prepare for and respond to active shooter incidents.

CISA provides a comprehensive set of courses, materials, and workshops designed to equip individuals and organizations with the skills necessary to respond effectively to active shooter situations. These resources address pre-incident behavioral indicators, characteristics associated with active shooters, potential methods of attack, the formulation of comprehensive emergency action plans, and appropriate responses during such incidents.