Resources for Shooting Emergencies, Security Needs

In light of the June 10 incident at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., when security guard Stephen Johns was shot and killed, American Association of Museums (AAM) is distributing Active Shooter materials prepared by the Department of Homeland Security. The materials provide guidance—in booklet, pocket card and poster forms—for the immediate actions to take in the event of an active shooter in your museum.

The Museum Association Security Committee (MASC) also shares its Recommendations for Preparing Museums for Active Shooter Situations, which were adapted from the Department of Homeland Security’s Active Shooter Guidelines. In order to prepare for an active shooter incident, MASC recommends that museums conduct a risk assessment, update their emergency evacuation plan following the risk assessment, train all employees and volunteers in the updated emergency evacuation plan, and conduct unscheduled realistic evacuation drills on a regular basis.

In addition, the Museum, Library, and Cultural Properties Council of ASIS International and the Museum Association Security Committee of AAM jointly developed Suggested Practices for Museum Security. Revised in 2006, the document addresses fire protection, burglar alarms, key control, access control, security staffing and training, security officer qualifications and pre-employment screening for museum employees.