Emergency Response Procedures

Welcome to the __________ 2017 Tour. As our world continues to change, especially with respect to emergencies that have increased at public functions including live concerts, it’s imperative that we prepare ourselves as much as possible when it comes to a possible emergency situation. It is not our intention, to inject fear, but to merely make everyone aware and give direction, when and if an emergency situation occurs.

The following information and procedures could apply, not only at the event venue, but also at a hotel, restaurant, or any other location.

A fact that should be known, when it comes to our industry and how we are classified from a government threat level. Most of the sites, we perform at, are considered to be a “SOFT TARGET”. This basically means, that it’s very vulnerable, when it comes to the site and resources that typically secure the premises.

There will be a few different security measures, that will give each event site, a higher level of security possibly, than the venue may typically operate under, but it is imperative and a must, that everyone does their part in helping with the safety and security of the event.

Tips:

• • Always beware of your surroundings
  • Always beware of all exit points
  • Always beware of the “Home Room”, also known as the Safe Room.
  • Visualize and mentally prepare for your actions, if an emergency happened
  • Have personal items on you, such as ID and phone at all times.
  • Add essential and key numbers related to the tour into your phone now, such as:

Emergency Hotline 

• • Security Director:
  • Production Manager:
  • Tour Manager:

Don’t have the mentality that it will not happen, but prepare that it will happen.

Without going into great details, but please know that in conjunction with the US Homeland Security Protocols, and our homeland security liaison, we operate under the following threat levels, which dictate the security level for that venue. It will vary, so please understand and stay flexible as things may change from city to city, but it is truly only in the name of safety and trying to ensure that we all go home to our families.

Threat Levels:

• ELEVATED
• HIGH
• SEVERE

We will primarily be operating at the HIGH-LEVEL SECURITY PROTOCOLS. What this primarily means for you is that you should expect and comply with the search protocols that will be in place for us as a crew as well. Anticipate being search as you come in and out of the venue including the backstage/door gate etc. This will include either a full pat down and or metal detector search, plus a bag search.

An emergency situation could come in the form of many different way’s, from fire, structural failure, weather, or what has become a great concern, “Man Made”, catastrophic situations, such as an active shooter, stabbings or explosive devices. Obviously, certain emergency situations will require different and more immediate actions than others. Please review the following scenario’s and actions that should be taken.

Immediate Catastrophic Emergencies: Active Shooter | Mass Stabbing | Explosive Detonation

This situation, typically happens without warning and no pre-preparation time period, such as weather, equipment and similar scenario’s where you typically have time to prepare.

Once you, Hear, See, or Notified of an Immediate Catastrophic Emergency, please take the following steps:

• EVACUATE: Have an escape route and plan in mind. Once you have successfully evacuated, Call the Emergency Hotline . Then Proceed to the nearest Police station, Fire Station Hospital, U.S. Embassy, or deemed safe location. What you should say to the operator on the hotline: Name, project, city, situation and acknowledge if you are injured or not.
• HIDE: If you are unable to evacuate, proceed to the pre-determined “Home Room”. If you aren’t able to make it to the pre-determined room, hide in an area out of the shooter’s view. Block entry to your hiding place and secure that room as much as possible and follow same guidelines for the “home room”. Silence your cell phone or other devices. When hiding on a tour bus. The bunk area has the most protection. Collapse the bunks to utilize them as a barrier.

*Please note, if it’s a project that has utilized our enhanced security measure operations, please utilize items in road case or bag that will be placed in dedicated “Home Room”.

• FIGHT: As a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger. Attempt to incapacitate the shooter/aggressor. Act with physical aggression. Grab anything that may be used as a weapon.

Rather you’re at a venue, restaurant, or hotel. The fundamentals are the same. Evacuate, Hide, and Fight.

**Emergency Hotline: In emergency situations, many times, one of the critical aspects is making sure there is an accurate accounted number of those associated with the tour/event. One thing, that has come up time and time again, is having one portal that everyone can be directed to, to confirm that they made it out and that they are safe.

Non-Immediate Emergencies: Weather | Equipment Failure | Artist Cancellation | Etc.

In most scenarios regarding these types of emergencies, preparation is on our side and we can preplan for the action and response.

In these situations, department heads will have specific responsibilities, which will require specific actions pertaining to that department and the actions that the personnel should take in the emergency situation. But to give you a better understanding on how some of the behind the scenes actions go, here is a brief overview on how the procedures go.

1. Emergency Management Team Members are notified of situation
2. Immediate meeting take place with Emergency Management Team – to include Local authorities.
3. Situation and options are discussed
4. Decision is made & Agreed plan determined
5. Emergency Procedures Plan goes into action
6. Post Action Plan goes into action

Reporting and notifying others, of emergency situations or security and safety concerns.

Immediate Catastrophic Emergencies:

1. Your first responsibility is to get out of harms way.
2. If you have a two-way radio, and have and see the opportunity, please turn to channel “1” and as clearly and calmly as possible please state the matter at hand.  Such as “There is a shooter in Catering, There is a shooter in Catering, There is a shooter in Catering. It’s important to state the location and action at least 3 times if possible, so everyone hears it, as it’s a great chance that the first announcement will not be heard. If you have the opportunity also Dial 911, if you can talk leave the line open so the operator can hear the situation.

*If radio system is not equipped with “All Call” channel, please switch to security channel immediately.

Non-Immediate Emergencies:

1. Contact via radio either production manager or security director of situation.
2. Speak calmly, clearly and specifically what the situation is.
3. You are not to take action, unless you clearly see that you have no other and you have a clear ability. A scenario where this may apply is that you see a small fire and you are able to extinguish without, putting yourself in danger or others.

Please note, that in scenario’s when non-immediate emergencies occur, that you will receive specific instructions on the evacuation procedures. Those instructions will include.

• What the emergency is and location
• Possible scenario’s that will occur, such as temporary delay, cancellation, evacuation, etc.
• Evacuation location that you should proceed to.
• Post emergency procedures, such as area and equipment checks to determine if the event will continue.

HOME ROOM

ACTIVATION PROTOCOLS

• Be out of the active shooter(s) and/or aggressor’s view.
• Lock and secure all doors: Use door Wedge Devices and other materials, such as Road Case to barricade the entry into the room
• Silence your cell phones, 2Way radios, televisions and other devices
• Cover, close and stay away from all windows and doorways
• Hide behind any large furniture or structures in the room
• Remain quiet at all times

Arm yourselves with fighting materials: The road case or bag will have an Emergency Response Kit. This kit will have materials, such as pepper spray, ASP Baton, Medical Kit, clot and tourniquet materials and other essential materials. *Please note, if it’s a project and or tour that has utilized our enhanced security measures, please utilize items in road case or bag that will be in the dedicated “Home Room”.

In scenarios, where you find yourself on a bus and you have to secure the bus, the process is the same. The bus is very limited to hiding locations, and its vulnerable. The safest location on the bus will be the bunk area. To fortify that location collapse the bunks to use as additional protection.

FIGHT

As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt, and/or incapacitate the active shooter or aggressor.

• Acting as aggressively as possible is a must
• Throwing items and the use of weapons
• Committing to your actions is a must.

LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE

It’s very important that you understand how a response will typically occur once law enforcement and emergency personnel arrive.  An active shooter situation will typically last about 10 minutes. The purpose of law enforcement when they arrive on site is to stop the threat.

The first officers to arrive to the scene will not stop to attend to the injured.  Expect rescue teams comprised of additional officers and emergency personnel to follow to attend to the injured. These rescue teams will treat and remove any injured persons and they may also call upon able-bodied individuals to assist in this process.

Here are steps that you should take once law enforcement arrives:

• Remain calm and follow officers instructions
• Put down any items in your hands, such as weapons bags, etc.
• Immediately raise your hands
• Keep hands visible at all times
• Avoid making quick movements toward officers, do not hold on to officers for safety
• Avoid pointing and screaming
• Do not stop to ask officers for help or direction when evacuating, as they are there initially there to stop the threat and ensure no further threats are present.

Once you have reached a safe location, you will likely be held in that area by law enforcement until the situation is under control and statements will be most likely taken by law enforcement.

Thank you for taking the time to read the materials.   Please make sure that if you have any questions at anytime that you bring it to our attention, as once again this information is NOT to inject fear, but to inform you and make you aware, so you can better prepare in the case of an emergency.