UMaine officials speak with BDN about emergency preparation
In the wake of the recent attack at Ohio State University, the Bangor Daily News spoke with University of Maine officials about preparing for an emergency on campus. The university offers emergency training to some of its staff, information about precautions to its students, and uses a mobile alert system to quickly disseminate urgent safety messages campuswide, according to the article. UMaine officials said the goal is to ensure thousands of university staff and students know what steps to take if the worst happens. “Police have gone to various classes for training, [and] certain staff and faculty groups have asked for and received training, as well,” said Robert Dana, UMaine’s vice president for student life and dean of students. He said the university stresses the importance of getting out ahead of any potential emergency or threat. If students see or hear something concerning, they should report it, he added. In the case of an active shooter or similar situation on campus, Roland LaCroix, UMaine’s police chief, points to the “Run, Hide, Fight” doctrine that has been adopted by the National Incident Management System. “If you can get out, we want you to get out,” he said. LaCroix directed people with questions about Run, Hide, Fight to a Homeland Security-produced video on the topic.