When an active shooter alert like the one issued Monday at Ohio State University is made, it raises awareness of being properly prepared in an emergency or crisis situation, local education officials said.

“It’s a shock, regardless of what we’ve seen or heard before. Every time something like this happens, to have a situation like this of such violence, it takes time to process it,” said Youngstown State University’s interim campus police Chief Shawn Varso. “It definitely raises awareness and draws attention to what can happen.”

Varso remained tuned into events at Ohio State after an active shooter alert was issued at the campus in Columbus. It was later reported a man had plowed his car into a group of pedestrians and stabbed several people before being shot to death by a police officer.

“It definitely raises awareness of the importance of having the right training, knowing what to do in a crisis situation,” Varso said. “It really is about safety and making sure people are prepared for every situation.”

A  few years ago YSU started conducting ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) drills designed to prepare students and staff should they be faced with an active shooter. The free training, offered several times a year, is especially relevant for civilians who, unlike law enforcement officials, might not otherwise encounter an aggressive intruder, Varso said. It was developed after the Columbine High School mass shooting in Colorado in 1999 and has now become a standard at many schools, businesses, government offices, churches and other institutions and facilities nationwide.

Locally, several ALICE trainings have taken place at various institutions and offices.

Varso said a goal at YSU is to eventually introduce ALICE to all incoming freshman. Participants learn how to plan and execute evacuations, defend themselves against an active shooter or assailant and lock down a building. Much of the training takes place in a classroom or office.

Doreen Martof, security officer at Kent State University at Trumbull, said the training readies individuals to be proactive.

“It teaches them to be prepared and gives them an awareness to help them be in control of a situation,” she said.

ALICE training, offered each fall and spring semester, is mandatory for all first-year students at the KSU campus in Champion. Martof said 80 percent of the campus has gone through the program.

“We’ve had a lot interest over last few years because of the active shooter situations we’ve had in the country,” Martof said. “With any incident in the country, you see more concern among students and a heightened awareness of what could happen.”

Ron Cole, YSU’s public information officer, said communication is a priority for the campus’ crisis intervention plan. YSU, like many campuses across the country, has a text messaging system to alert students and staff of potential danger.

Ohio State officials on Monday sent “Run Hide Fight” messages to students reminding them, as some had previously been trained, to run somewhere safe, to hide from the assailant and, as a last resort, to fight back.

At YSU it is known as the Penguin Alert system.

“A big part of any emergency is trying to let people know as quickly as possible what’s happening and to make sure people are as safe as possible,” Cole said.

Campus officials review the crisis plan regularly and update it as necessary, he said. Cole said safeguards in place extend beyond active shooter incidents to also address other emergencies such as a tornado or fire.

vshank@tribtoday.com

The Associated Press contributed to this story.