Active Shooter Statistics

To be able to properly respond to an active shooter situation, one must complete training and practice. Since FBI began releasing their report in 2000, the first seven years demonstrated an average of 6.4 active-shooter incidents, and that figure grew more than twofold to 16.4 the following seven years. The number lingered around 20 incidents every year since then, surging in the last two. Even though the previous year had a lower activity, last year’s results remained consistent with a troubling trend. According to the FBI, there have been 27 active shooter incidents in 2018 . 27 incidents in 16 states. 213 casualties – excluding the shooters. 85 killed: 2 law enforcement officers, 1 unarmed security officer 128 wounded, including 6 law enforcement officers.

Types of locations (2018):

• Sixteen of the 27 incidents took place in areas of commerce and business environment, resulting in 41 killed and 61 wounded.
• Five of the 27 incidents happened in education environments, resulting in 29 killed and 52 wounded.
• Two of the 27 incidents occurred in health care facilities.
• One of the 27 incidents occurred on government property.
• One of the 27 incidents occurred in a house of worship.

How to Respond

1. Run – Have an escape route and plan on where to go. – Leave your belongings behind. – Prevent others from entering the area. – Call 911 when it is safe to do so.
2. Hide – Shelter-in-place in an area out of the shooter’s view. – Block entry to your hiding place and secure the door. – Silence communications devices. – Remain quiet.
3. Fight – As a last resort and only if your life is in danger, attempt to incapacitate the shooter. – Act with physical aggression and throw items at the active shooter. – Commit to your actions.

When Law Enforcement Arrives

• Officers will usually be in teams.
• May be in uniform or tactical gear.
• First responders won’t help victims until the threat is neutralized.
• Remain calm and follow directions.
• Keep hands visible and avoid sudden movements.
• Avoid pointing, screaming, and yelling.
• Expect to be detained.

Get Prepared

• Establish a partnership with local law enforcement and first responders.
• Implement an action plan that addresses active shooter scenarios.
• Designate at least one (two recommended) “safe rooms” on each floor and ensure everyone is aware of the locations.
• Conduct awareness training for personnel to ensure everyone recognizes and understands the warning signs of potential violence.
• Test and drill on your plans.
• And remember, if you see something, say something.

Even the best-laid plans can go terribly wrong with the simple introduction of the “human factor.” Implement this in the emergency response planning, where the stakes are high, and even the most thorough plan can begin to fall apart. The best ways to eliminate the human factor is to test your plans during tabletop exercises.

Our monthly report on the number and types of business interruptions we have responded to and companies we have recovered, providing our unparalleled business continuity and disaster recovery solutions.

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Synopsis

The majority of disruptions were caused by weather-related events, such as tornadoes. With a slight increase in recovery activity, we responded to 25 calls for assistance from our customers, six of which escalated to recoveries. Also, the Operations Team supported 16 customer test exercises across our operations facilities in Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Northborough.

Here are four successful recoveries we’ve completed in May:

• A credit union in New Castle, DE requested a restroom trailer. As they were undergoing construction, this organization with nearly 40,000 members needed a restroom trailer while the sewer line had to be replaced.

• A national retailer in Longview, TX requested generators. Following a disaster in the area, this retailer wanted to open its doors to the community as soon as possible. Its partnership with Agility allowed it to do just that.

• A Fortune 100 company in Dayton, OH experienced a power outage. Due to severe storms in the area, this client reached out to us for a generator backup to get back to being fully operational and be able to service their customers.

• A convenience store in Dayton, OH faced power outage. A 23 billion dollar convenience store asked our operations team to deliver 4 generators to various locations without power in the region.

Our Operations Team successfully completed 15 different test exercises that involved 3 BRC tests in our Northborough testing facility, 3 tests in Las Vegas, and 4 tests in Atlanta. Besides showcasing the capabilities of our facilities, we also conducted 2 Mobile Recovery Center tests and 2 mobile unit tests.

We invite you to learn more about what we do or to chat about how we can help your business avoid any interruptions.

Hurricane season officially starts on Saturday, June 1, and is expected to get more intense later in the summer when things heat up. NOAA defines June 1-Nov. 30 as the timeframe for the hurricane season because it includes more than 97 percent of tropical cyclones. However, there’s a reason that 3 percent exists. Subtropical storm   Andrea made a brief appearance to the southwest of Bermuda on May 20.

Based on NOAA’s outlook, it’ll be a near-normal Atlantic hurricane season with a 40% chance of a near-normal season, a 30% chance of an above-normal season, and a 30% chance of a below-normal season.

It’s with a 70% confidence that NOAA ranges named storm from nine to 15 with winds of 39 mph or higher. Four to eight of these storms could grow into hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher, and two to four major hurricanes.

Create a Plan That Addresses the Entire Business

There’s a common misconception that business continuity planning only affects the IT department. In fact, whether you create a business continuity plan (BCP) internally or choose to outsource it, your BCP should involve strategies for getting critical processes and departments up and running again. If you already have a BCP in place, third-party consultants can provide an objective view of your business and make suggestions for your BCP so that your plan is effective when interruptions occur. Business continuity as a service (BCaaS) uses the expertise of professionals to develop and manage a specific plan tailored to your business’ needs. With a streamlined course of action, your business will be able to remain operational in the event of a disaster.

Prepare Alternate Workspaces

Whether there’s physical destruction to your building or employees and customers are unable to travel, damages from disasters can hinder your ability to maintain normal business activities in your primary office space. If you need to relocate business operations , make sure you have access to an alternate workspace as soon as possible. Fully equipped alternative workspaces like Mobile Recovery Centers (MRCs) can be made available within as little as 24-48 hours of a disaster declaration, while Fixed-site Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) can be made available within as little as four hours of a declaration. Once the alternate location is set up, your company can begin to restore business operations successfully.

Back up and Recover Your Data

Having access to your data and applications is imperative when disaster strikes. A fully managed and monitored cloud recovery platform will protect your IT infrastructure. With secure data vaulting and recovery , your data will be recoverable on- or off-site within your recovery time objectives.

Communities rely on local bank and credit union branches to be open in times of disaster, especially to obtain cash when cellular networks are down and they're not able to use credit cards to purchase needed resources.

The Challenge : Burst Pipes, Remodeling, Mountain Location

A county bank branch that was slated for a remodel experienced burst pipes, resulting in flooding and a delay in the remodeling schedule. The branch was in the mountains, presenting challenges for the recovery and mobile recovery unit placement.

The Solution: Mobile Branch Recovery with ReadyFinancial+

After receiving a call from the member, Agility leapt into action to deliver a mobile recovery unit , restroom trailer, generator, and technology equipment. To navigate the recovery’s unique topography, Agility adjusted details like providing ADA switchback ramping for accessibility to the trailer. Two generators were delivered to provide redundancy.

Results

The bank branch was back up and running within one week of the event with the mobile recovery unit, providing essential services to their customers. As the member began receiving time and cost estimates for repairs and remodeling, they realized they needed a long-term, more viable solution. Agility made it easy for this member to transition to a more permanent structure, increasing comfort for staff and customers alike. We worked with the bank to form a solution that would prevent any sinkage, since it was placed in a potentially sinkable area. We provided enough base for the new unit’s weight, and the general contractor worked with Agility to construct a wooden ramp to ensure ADA access. The unit remained onsite for a year, showcasing the versatility that Agility brings to the table to better serve our members and provide comfort in times of need.

Ensuring Continuity for the Community They Serve

A bank's business continuity isn't just a formal phrase; it has a deep meaning that touches everyone in the surrounding community. Local and regional banks have strong commitments to the communities they serve. They operate as the center of the local economy and are part of the daily lives of residents and small businesses. Any change in how these banks operate means a change in the community, and change brings uncertainty. Their customers look to them as a stable institution, and they need to be assured that their money will be protected no matter what happens.

Challenge: Urgent Need for Remediation Leaves Community Bank Without a Branch to Operate From

An Agility customer who operates regional bank branches in Northern and Central California recently acquired a new market. During their inspections, they noticed mold and asbestos in one location that would require extensive remodeling and remediation. Immediate attention was required to ensure employees' and customers' safety, so continuing operations inside the bank as repairs were made was out of the question. Our client needed a way to maintain continuity for a branch and its customers that they were newly responsible for.

Solution: Mobile Bank Branch Recovery

After discussing their recovery options, they requested a ReadyFinancial mobile bank branch be deployed to their location. That same day, we deployed the required assets to the existing branch parking lot to restore normal operations. Each mobile branch is a complete recovery unit with teller counters, cash drawers, check-writing stations, a safe, and tables and chairs for meetings. We normally provide Internet and communications in our mobile units. However, with their building still operational, we connected their existing utilities to the mobile branch unit and avoided any extra costs.

Results: Instant Solution for Prolonged Recovery

By recovering at their existing location, they provided customers with reliable service without the added challenges of moving the branch and employees and rerouting customers to a new location. The client was originally scheduled to operate out of a mobile branch recovery unit for two weeks, but repairs to the building prolonged their stay. The solutions we offer are flexible, and their recovery was extended for an additional two and a half months.

Disaster Recovery to Protect Sonic Automotive Operations

Sonic Automotive is one of the largest car retailers in the United States. They operate over 100 dealerships across the country, and they regularly surpass over 100,000 auto sales a year. They work in two different segments, one part consists of franchised dealerships representing over 20 different new vehicle brands, and the other offers cars in the pre-owned market. Each dealership has its own unique threats to continuity, and Sonic needs to be ready for everything from earthquakes to fires.

Challenge: Fire, Structural Damage, Power Loss

On two separate occasions in 2014, Sonic Automotive reached out to Agility with severe continuity problems. The roof at a dealership in Orlando, Florida, collapsed, and the building was condemned. In the early hours on Thanksgiving morning, a small fire damaged a Texas dealership and crippled the building's power. Any pause in sales for a dealership is a major loss in revenue, but Black Friday is one of the year's largest vehicle sales weekends.

Solution: Mobile Recovery Unit, Backup Power, Connection

In each recovery situation, Agility deployed a mobile unit to serve as a temporary office. After employees showed customers their inventory, they could bring them back to the recovery unit to speak. Each employee had access to work stations and meeting areas, as well as computers and phones. Agility’s generators powered the units, and our 4G LTE router provided the Internet connection.

Results: Operations Restored

The dealership in Orlando resumed normal operations within days of making the call, and agents worked out of the temporary office until a permanent replacement could be built. Within 48 hours of the Texas location reaching out to Agility and implementing their recovery plan, the mobile office was operational. Their ability to recover before the Black Friday sales event prevented Sonic's devastating loss, the dealership, and the individual employees.

To call on Thanksgiving and to have Agility respond and be up and running within 48 hours was amazing.

Tim Hallice, Director of Risk Management