Events

The Newton Area Chamber of Commerce, along with the Harvey County Emergency Management will be hosting this quarter’s Hot Topic Luncheon on Active Shooter Preparedness on Wednesday, February 21st from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Meridian Center. 

The cost to attend the Hot Topic Luncheon: Active Shooter Preparedness is $25 for Chamber Members and $35 for non-members. Lunch will be provided. Please register for the luncheon no later than by Monday, February 12th. If you reserve, you are responsible to pay even if you do not eat or are unable to attend.

Here’s what an attendee can expect to learn during this Hot Topic Luncheon: Learn the history of Harvey County’s preparation for active shooter events. Gain an understanding of issues and concerns unique to active shooter preparation in places of commerce. Determine if your facility is a “soft target” and what can be done to strengthen the safety of your business and much more. 

Active shooter is a term used by law enforcement to describe a situation in which a shooting is in progress.  Unlike a defined crime, such as a murder or mass killing, the active aspect inherently implies that citizens have the potential to affect the outcome of the event based upon their responses.  When active shooter incidents occur, there are often multiple fatalities and trauma inflicted on a community.

Between 2000 and 2006, an average of 6.4 incidents occurred each year. Between 2007 and 2013, and average of 16.4 incidents occurred each year, and has continued to increase in frequency. 60% of the incidents ended before police arrived. According to the DOJ “A Study of Active Shooter Incidents in the United States Between 2000 and 2013”, 45.6% of active shooter incidents occurred in Places of Commerce. 27.5% occurred in business spaces open to pedestrian traffic.14.3% occurred in business spaces closed to pedestrian traffic. 3.8% occurred in malls

The best time to consider how you can help your business prepare and respond for this type of crisis in now. Yes, it can happen at your business. Certainly every Place of Commerce will have its own approach to how a business responds if an active shooter incident would occur.  However, there are some universal principles worthy of discussion that honor all Places of Commerce and increase safety and security.  Facilitators will lead these discussions and provide information to help your business prepare for such an event while at the same time understanding the response of local emergency personnel.