School Shooting Drill Planned to Test Emergency Response

District, teams from local agencies work together in trial run of threat

August 19, 2004 - On August 24, police, fire and emergency response teams will converge on Renton High School, responding to an emergency call that a gunman has entered the building, wounded several students and taken a classroom of kids hostage.

The mock school shooting drill is part of a training exercise, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, designed to prepare several agencies for an actual crisis. Participants include the Renton School District, Renton's police and fire departments, King County Medic One and Valley Communications, the regional 9-1-1 center that provides emergency communications services.

The drill will be as realistic as possible, combining important aspects of a cooperative effort required in an actual emergency. Members of the response team will be clad in camouflage uniforms, with tactical vests and helmets - armed with simulated automatic weapons and gas masks. Tactics will include school and classroom searches, securing the campus and surrounding community, evacuation of students, hostage negotiations, triage, evacuation of victims, arrest of the shooter and media communications.

Results of the drill will help schools better prepare for emergency situations and be better prepared to work with local law enforcement agencies in responding to threatening situations.