Augusta officials tentatively adopt new standards for hostile events like shootings
As news of mass shootings continues to spread from across the U.S., Augusta is taking steps to better prepare its residents and organizations.
The Augusta Public Safety Committee on Tuesday approved a new community-wide standard spelling out best practices during active shooter and other hostile events.
The National Fire Protection Association’s 3000 program is already in place at Augusta University, whose emergency manager, John Ryan, presented the free program as a living set of guidelines based on data from previous crises and are updated as new events occur.
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"Unfortunately, we have plenty of incidents to study and read the after-action reports from and go, 'Was there anything we were recommending that didn't work very well here?'" Ryan said.
The guidelines cover a lot of areas from when to hide to knowing how many exits are available and where they are. It has chapters instructing businesses, first responders, educators and many other groups. Part of the larger focus is to ensure one solid, overarching standard for the entire community.
During Tuesday's meeting, Augusta Fire/EMA Director Antonio Burden endorsed the program and said Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree supports it as well, though the sheriff was not in attendance.
"Throughout this country, communities have had to contend with over 199 events just this year alone," Burden said. "What this initiative says is when it comes to the protection of our community and our citizens, we're going to be on one accord. We are going to plan in advance of these types of incidents."
Copies of the guidelines are available for purchase online at nfpa.org. It will not be the official standard until it receives approval from the Augusta Commission. Its next meeting is at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta to adopt new guideline standards for shootings, hostile events
