By Dr. Randall Cuthbert
Associate Professor, Emergency & Disaster Management at American Public University
Greetings again from beautiful Las Vegas, where I am attending the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) annual conference.
The terrorist attacks in Paris happened shortly after I arrived here and, as I sat through the evenings looking out at the brightly lighted Vegas landscape, I started thinking about how location matters when preparing to keep one’s family safe in this admittedly insane world. Shooters like cities—so by the simple act of spending time in Vegas vs. my rural residence, I’ve increased my personal risk of being involved in an attack.
For the purpose of this discussion, I won’t differentiate between nut-jobs with bombs and guns, whether they are Syrian terrorists in France or American shooters in theatres or churches or schools. We are under siege by people who cannot cope with the pain of their existence and are compelled to lash out, using whatever convenient excuse they can find.
While we do not want to alter our lifestyles or our society to accommodate the possible actions of these individuals, neither can we afford to conclude there is no risk to our safety, whatever our circumstance. Life is risky.
One thing to note is that shooters do seek crowds in order to achieve maximum effect, so it’s rational to do an evaluation before going to a crowded place. Is there security nearby? Are there multiple exits? Hiding places? A little attention to questions like these can make all the difference.
So if you are in charge of setting up just this sort of event, keep these kinds of considerations in mind. Although it’s sad to say, the car bomb has been used right here in the US—so keeping the parking area at a distance is a plus. Visible security is known to dissuade attackers, who then decide that making their statement is too much trouble and less likely to succeed. Venues can be chosen for concerns of safety as well—classrooms and theatres would be relatively dangerous, public parks much less so, just due to escape access.
These considerations impact other decisions too, including your choice for pursuing additional education. Schools are a popular target where individuals gather in large numbers, security is thinly spread, and classrooms only have one door. With online education, you’re not required to leave the safety and security of your home or workplace.
One feature of our interconnected world is that as you build your professional networks, you will likely know people who are impacted by a shooter event. That means that YOU, as a responsible and empathetic member of our society, have additional opportunities to help the victims–whether by simple moral support, physical support, or standing in solidarity with them against the insanity.
Onward and upward!
About the Author: Dr. Randall Cuthbert is an associate professor of Emergency & Disaster Management. He is also a contributing editor at EDMdigest.com, which provides a daily summary of Emergency Management news and analysis of current disaster-related events.
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