How a Trip to the Grocery Store Has Me Looking for Exits and Where to Hide
When I lived in San Francisco one of my roommates would look at every door frame the second she entered a room. Where would she hide if an earthquake hit?
She’d instantly create a back-up plan, under a table, away from windows, nothing above her head.
Back in the 90’s when we lived together in San Francisco this was our worry.
Today, when I had to go to the grocery store I found myself looking for emergency exists or where I could hide if there was an active shooter.
I’m not making a plan to hide from Mother Nature and an earthquake, I’m actively making a plan to hide from someone with a gun in a grocery store.
I’d never walked into a store and felt the need to develop a strategy to flee until today.
Where would I hide? How would I get out? I found myself looking for exits and hiding places instead of apples and broccoli.
Run. Hide. Fight.
The Department of Homeland Security has a whole booklet on an active shooter situation that gives tactical advice. There’s also a video of an active shooter situation — fair warning it scared the heck out of me.
I read the booklet from cover to cover and I watched the video a few times. I can be as prepared as possible and still not be able to act.
Run — If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to evacuate the premises.
Hide — If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the active shooter is less likely to find you.
Fight — As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the active shooter.
I had two more stops after the grocery store. At both shops I was conscious of the exits, of which way to run and where to hide. I absolutely hate that this is what I think about now, but in America, until we change, this is our reality.
