Drill showcases new active shooter response in Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - #StrongAugusta is working together on a new response to active shooters.
The plan was put into action at a training at Southside Elementary School on Thursday. More than 50 people were a part of this event.
It’s been months of strategic planning to make this response the best way to serve the community and help keep the community safe.
The 12th suspect involved in the deadly shootout between two biker clubs is out of the hospital and in jail.
33-year-old Deja Dotson and 11 others are facing two murder charges and one count of aggravated assault.
More than 150 rounds flew through the air during the weekend shootout on Sand Bar Ferry Road.
Now after months of planning, Thursday was the first active shooter training for the city.
They’re hosting a full-scale active shooter drill to prepare for if an incident were to occur. The drill included numerous community partners and law enforcement agencies throughout the area.
It was a busy day with almost 20 local and state agencies involved in the process.
We spoke to agents at the training who say events like these are critical for the community.
This impacts how people are protected in situations that are becoming more common every day.
Multiple agencies came together to put to test training for an active shooter situation, with incidents as early as this past weekend officials know these trainings are crucial.
Augusta is the first city in Georgia to test out this plan, also known as ASHER or NFPA 3000. Augusta has seen and had to respond to active shooter situations.
“The way we look at it, you go into violence is a major public health problem in the US. It’s a complex problem,” said Dr. Alejandro Baez, Augusta University vice chair emergency medicine.
It’s why Dr. Baez has been working for three years to create better response plans when active shooters strike.
“Sadly, we have better for the worse. And the idea is hope for the best, prepare for the worst,” he said.
This plan not only impacts those in Augusta but also how this plan is looking to be implemented in other cities.
Brian Ozden, Supervisory Senior Resident FBI Augusta, said: “This is an opportunity for us to train together to work together and try to start the process of utilizing the NFPA 3000.”
NFPA 3000 is national response already used statewide in a few states, but not Georgia. Augusta is the first in the state calling it #strongaugusta making this a community effort.
John Ryan, exercise director, said: “The idea is that the entire community is involved and everyone, not just in Augusta Richmond County. In the ading neighborhoods as well. They all are practicing for this horrible eventuality as well.”
A quick response can be the difference in lives saved.
With this being the first training with this new response method, agencies are now debriefing and figuring out what went right, and what went wrong.
In June, leaders who organized this drill will share what they learned at a national conference in Vegas. There’s also one coming up in D.C. They’re hoping to encourage other states and counties to start the same program.
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