In less than a month, there have been two mass shootings, killing 18 people and injuring dozens others in Colorado and Wisconsin. Now police locally and across the country are reaching out to teach others and their own about what to do in a mass shooting.
The City of Houston's mayor's office and Homeland Security released a public service announcement Friday that advises people what to do in an active shooting situation. In the video, a man dressed all in black heads into a busy office and starts shooting at random. The video, which cost $180,000 to make, offers three main tips: run, hide, and fight.
"You always want to be prepared for the worst," said Horry County police's interim chief, Saundra Rhodes.
We showed the video to some people on the boardwalk in Myrtle Beach, and they didn't seem impressed.
"Horrible waste of money. Horrible waste of money. If you don't know what to do in that situation. And there isn't a right thing to do in that situation," Louis Turnage said.
"I just couldn't leave innocent people behind," Cameron Beeler said.
Horry County Police Chief Saundra Rhodes says the tips in the Houston video are about basic survival.
Horry County police completed a week long training of weapons of mass destruction in early July. In addition, they're training more than just SWAT teams.
"Most of the time our patrol officers are going to respond initially. Before the SWAT team is even called out or get everything together and get on scene. So every year we put on active shooter training. It's an 8-hour training course every officer goes through," Rhodes said.
Police have also practiced responding to hazmat situations, earthquakes and explosives. Those trainings were funded by the Department of Homeland Security.
