This is Not a Test

I have worked at Bismarck State College for over 19 years. On Thursday, I participated in my first real life lockdown. Kudos to our crisis team, our president Dr. Larry Skogen, and all the law enforcement that responded. I'm sure there are areas we want to improve, but I believe the entire event went as well as could be expected.

Around 11:30 am on Thursday morning the intercom system clicked on overhead in my office suite. This is not completely out of the ordinary as they test the system from time to time. Dr. Skogen's voice boomed overhead stating that BSC was going into lockdown immediately and to shelter in place. Our staff poked their heads out of our offices and gathered in the workroom. 

Not really thinking much of it, I assumed it was a unannounced lock down drill. When we shut the door essentially locking us in for the time being, Dr. Skogen said THIS IS NOT A TEST.  My first thought was this cannot be good. My second thought was,  "Can I go back to my office and grab my phone? As soon as this hits the media, my phone is going to blow up!"

We had 8 people in the storage room, lights out, no furniture, and a box of candy. 

This cannot last long. It will be fine. We just happen to have some extra laptops in the room with us so I was able to post to Facebook that I was safe. We could monitor what was being issued to the media, but we didn't know anything more than what the outside public knew. By hour three we were making plans to use the garbage can as our bathroom if needed. We were thankful for the box of mini Snickers and Twix. And like everyone else hoping that students and co-workers  on campus were safe. 

Four and half hours from the time of the initial lockdown, Dr. Skogen gave the all clear for my building. Please follow the instructions of the swat team in the hallway. Yes of course, who is going to argue with them?

I was right about my phone. I had so many text messages, it vibrated itself off my desk and was laying on the floor. Thank you for all the words of concern and encouragement. It is a day not soon forgotten. We can count our blessings that it ended without incident. 

As I drove my car off campus, ten men in full swat gear crossed the street in front of my car. That is something you don't see everyday. And hopefully never again on campus.