Even though I am writing this many, many hours later I'd like to give my condolences to the family of Daniel Parmertor who passed away this morning/early afternoon from gunshot wounds. I would also like to say I hope that the rest of the surviving victims make a full and speedy recovery, and I hope and pray for the community to help one another come over this tragic event that has taken place earlier on this horrific morning.
From watching after hearing about it, I began watching the aftermath unfold live on both CNN News and Fox News as well to see how things were handled. I find that exercises for school shootings are never taken as seriously as they should be, and this is a good reason why they should be. Every school and local law enforcement should work together as a team to make sure that if anything ever happens in their district they know how to respond immediately and how to react.
From how the events unfolded, I would say that the situation was handled pretty well from the school's administration and staff as well as the students. From locking the school down, to contacting local law enforcement as well as outside jurisdictions to aid in assistance (FBI, ATF) was done very well. The fact that they had kids who had cell phones text their parents and not call to jam the phone lines and cell towers was brilliant and set a sort of calm to the parents letting them know their kids were alright. From the school contacting parents as well to let them know what was happening and unfolding and giving them news and info was very well put together, and sending text messages to students with info when it first started happening was magnificent. Also before they would let the kids leave, they had to leave with their parent(s) or legal guardian, and that was a little time consuming, but it was a solid need and must.
I have to commend the School Administration and Staff as well as Local and Federal Law Enforcement for working so quickly and responded so well without any jurisdictional mishaps or bickering. This is a sure sign of true cooperation that needs to be taken from and shown to the rest of the areas who are still in the "ME" mindset.
The one thing I have to say that I did not like was from watching both news agencies is when they started interviewing students after they had been released to their families. I did not, nor do I like it even if it is "news". Have a heart and realize that these students just went through hell, and they'll continue go through hell with nightmares and having to cope with the sounds, and the memories of seeing their friends fall or already fallen from gunshot wounds. That is my only bicker on the horrific event and the response.
At this time, I'd like to encourage all school districts and law enforcement agencies to work together and come up with a EOP (Emergency Operations Plan) and how things should be handled and the steps to be taken in the event that such a tragedy should strike. The one thing I kept hearing and always end up hearing in these circumstances is, "I never thought it'd happen here". While everyone may think that, it never hurts to be well equipped and prepared. Not only should School Districts and Law Enforcement Agencies work on this they should also hold exercises and take it 100% seriously, because even in the cases I've seen most staff and students do not take it seriously as it should be.
I hope you all have a good night, rest well, and I hope we have all learned from what has unfolded here and how to avoid, prevent, and look for these signs.
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