BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Top Photo: From left are Prattville Police Capt. James Harry, Prattville Fire Deputy Chief Josh Bingham, PCA Head of School Katie Furr (at the podium) Director of Marketing/Communications for Baptist Health Agnew and Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie (Photos by Sarah Stephens/EAN)
For the past year there have been multiple organizations planning for a Mass Casualty/Active Shooter training event that took place this morning at Prattville Christian Academy.
Prattville first responders, city officials, Prattville Christian Academy officials, and Baptist Health took part in a press conference this afternoon at PCA, following the training.
Earlier this morning, police, fire and other area first responders began the training exercise, which included an active shooter with multiple victims. While it is grim content, it is also absolutely necessary that area officials prepare for worst-case scenarios. The emotional scars still remain for anyone who has actually been through a similar situation or lost a loved one to a horrific event.
Throughout the morning, those who listened to a police scanner could hear Prattville Police Dispatchers and officers communicating back and forth about the location of the “active shooter,” number of victims, calling for assistance, etc. Taking part in this staged event were students, school resource officers, parents and faculty of PCA who were urged to take the training seriously.
Parents we spoke to who took part said at times, it was so realistic it was frightening. But, they stressed, if the training can prepare them for when and if this ever happens, it could most definitely save lives.
Head of School at PCA is Katie Furr. She thanked everyone involved, saying this isn’t something that anyone wants to see happen, but it is a very serious reality and too many cases have been documented in recent years across the country and in Alabama.
Prattville Police Department Capt. James Harry also spoke, as well as Deputy Chief Josh Bingham from the Prattville Fire Department, Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie and Director of Marketing and Communications for Baptist Health, Kadi Agnew.
All agreed that the training today, as well as other recent training Prattville Police and Fire officials have conducted, is absolutely necessary. It is also extremely important that if you have any suspicions, or see something on social media, or your child tells you a rumor, it must all be taken seriously. However, it is imperative to share that information with local police rather than on social media.
Area organizations who were a part of this event today include those mentioned above, but also Haynes Ambulance, Elmore Emergency Management Agency, Elmore Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and Troy Police Department.
Officials said that a real-world scenario sets the stage for when and if a local mass casualty, or active shooter situation, occurs. Everyone was reminded it is not just school shootings. Recent events across the country have taken place at churches, neighborhoods, malls, grocery stores, as well as schools. It can happen anywhere, at any time.
This type of training will be ongoing, and not just in Prattville, but across our area.
For more information on active shooter training scenarios, and why it is so important, the speakers recommended a variety of websites including www.FBI.gov which covers information on “Run, Hide, Fight.”
www.Stopthebleed.org addresses critical training after a mass casualty or even a singular incident where there are injuries. On this website, organizations can also sign up for future training events at their location.
We pray it never happens here, but training before an event is critical. Thank you to all who participated and helped plan this very important event today. May the training never be necessary.
