LEXINGTON, Ky. — With police and emergency responders spread across campus as simulated gunshots rang out Thursday morning, the University of Kentucky began its first large-scale active shooter simulation.
What you need to know
- The University of Kentucky Police Department hosted an active shooter drill on May 30.
- UK partnered with Texas A&M Emergency Extension Services for the exercise
- Local and state emergency teams had stretchers, trucks and tactical equipment, while briefings and information were shared around the hour.
- Texas A&M Emergency Extension Services helps more than 100 countries and 174,000 people with emergency prevention and intervention
- The University of Kentucky Police Department hosted an active shooter drill on May 30.
- UK partnered with Texas A&M Emergency Extension Services for the exercise
- Local and state emergency teams had stretchers, trucks and tactical equipment, while briefings and information were shared around the hour.
- Texas A&M Emergency Extension Services helps more than 100 countries and 174,000 people with emergency prevention and intervention
Mimicking a real-life scenario, local and state emergency teams had stretchers, trucks and tactical equipment, while briefings and information were shared around the hour. This occurred when most students were off campus.
Texas A&M’s Desiree Pliler said the school worked with UK for more than six months to prepare for what is happening in similar spaces across the United States.
“We want to come into an area and prepare them from start to finish for any type of disaster response, whether it’s climate, man-made or something like that,” Pliler said.
With drones flying around campus and participants set up outside the White Hall classroom, the emergency preparedness drill is one of several initiatives UK implements throughout the year to keep students and staff safe in the event of an emergency. .
More than 150 first responders participated and more than 50 other people volunteered as victims, creating a realistic experience.
The University of Kentucky used campus space outside the White Hall classroom on May 30, 2024, while students were absent to conduct an active assailant exercise. (Spectrum News 1/Sabriel Metcalf)
“There is the (University of Kentucky Police Department); you have Lexington police and fire. How will everyone respond? Pliler said. “It’s a group effort when you give this kind of response and then how are you going to command and control this scene from a perimeter, from the media, from the angry parents, from all the facets that you’re going to have to deal with? Not just the shooter?”
Chief Joe Monroe said it is important for all crisis responders to know the plans and procedures.
“We’ve done everything from a response to our communications plan in our testing, our (Emergency Operations Center), as well as our hospital’s mass casualty plan,” Monroe said.
The first responder team will use the test to determine improvements to strengthen their response.
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