a back now on al jazeera america with breaking news. a report of a shooting at a community college in roseburg, oregon. the southwest corner of oregon at umpqua community college. there are reports of multiple deaths. possibly ten according to oregon state police and 20 others injured. the shooter is in custody. we are told that this began about an hour or hour an a half ago. that the situation is now under control. let's go to our security consultant j.j. green. he's our national security contributor joining us by phone from washington d.c. j.j. >> hi, randall.

>> so you were saying earlier that there are protocols in place at most college campuses because we've had so many of these tragedies in the past decade or so. one thing that obviously is very useful is social media. universities and colleges have developed a system of sending out a warning usually to everyone to stay in place or to seek shelter when these sort of events occur. >> yeah, but these plans that are in place now that are parts of homeland security and local homeland security and local emergency management officials and local police are much more complex than this. what they'll do is they'll go to any college, university, any business, any significant organization that has a significant population and what they'll do is a survey to begin with. they'll survey that organization on what kind of security they have in place now.

and that survey will tell them where there are vulnerabilities and what needs to be fixed. so after the survey, they'll make recommendations on what needs to be done. it's important to note that in each situation, every single one of them is different and as i mentioned earlier in a situation like a college, it's got to be fairly arobust you. so much though has to be taken into consideration and you have to look at the neighborhoods that are surrounding as well. so it's very complex and way beyond sending out bulletins and notes via internet. as we look at the umpqua community college website, it's down. so it's not warning anyone at this point. this is why these active shooter and security perspective surveys that dhs is engaging with

communities all over the country, that's why they're important. >> thank you, j.j. let's bring in michael dorn on the phone from atlanta. he's a school safety expert and director of safe havens international. i assume you're up to speed, sir, on what has been happening out there in

>> let me ask you this: does the fact that this is a community college which ordinarily would mean a lot of commuter students not on campus, not students living on campus, does this in any way in your opinion complicate the investigation? >> yes, sir, it does. i was in charge of evaluation for all the technical colleges in georgia and the campus designs are very different, much more open than a k-12 campus. our k-12 campuses are typically way ahead in terms of prevention

and response and preparedness although there's many well prepared higher ed entities but they're very often more difficult to control. and you've got a lot of people coming anticipate going. so they have -- and going. so they have those same risks that you'll see at our independent school campuses for k-12 and many of our smaller public and private colleges and technical colleges. >> i'm not sure if we can listen to our affiliate. do we have the ability to listen in just for a second? stay with us, please, mr. dorn, and you too, j.j. green. we want to see if we can listen to our affiliate out there in oregon to hear what they're reporting on this breaking news of a shooting at umpqua community college. >> as we try to process again another horrific situation again happening here in oregon. this time at a small community

college in roseburg. >> there will be some silence here as we try to get and confirm more information. we're obviously following all the best sources we can. we have multiple crews on the way down there. we hope to get some live pictures from the scene as soon as we can. also hope to hear from police at the media staging area. >> let's listen to our partners and what they're reporting right now. >> with a lot of blood on her and she was wrapped in a blanket and being put in the car perhaps by her parents. so obviously it is a situation that is unfolding now so we don't have a lot of firm information but, again, if you are just turning on the television set, the big story, the breaking news, is a shooting at umpqua community college in roseburg. multiple deaths. seven to ten people have been killed. the focus of the shootings is snyder hall on the campus of umpqua community college. if you've been there, it's not

real large but there are a lot of students. 3,000 full time students there and thousands more who are part time students. we're at the beginning of the school year now so you know the campus was packed with people and, again, the shootings all started within the last hour and a half at umpqua community college. as we get more information of course today we'll pass that information on to you. you can see by the map there on your screen, umpqua community college just off the river. it's a very short drive from the river off of i-5 in the north part of roseburg. but just a scary situation and you know we will be hearing stories from some of those people who were on campus when the shooting broke out. it is just hard to even describe what is going through the minds of parents and students who were on campus. the stories will unfold over the next few days. but as of now, this is a situation they are dealing with. kristen has talked about it,

sarah talked about it. a lot of police officers, of course, getting to the scene in a big hurry. there were emergency vehicles, fire, ambulances. she mentioned people from the firefightering district 2 down there in roseburg also responding to lend a hand and help out in this situation. we're now getting word that students from the college are being bussed to the fairgrounds in roseburg. this information just coming in from the sheriff's office. they're taking students from the scene at umpqua community college, bussing them to the fairgrounds where they will be reunited of course with their families, get themselves out of that situation where they are right now. as we get more information again, we will bring it to you and if you're just joining us, multiple deaths, seven to ten people have been killed. the call came in at 10:38 this morning. so, again, that's about an hour and a half ago when the first

reports of the shootings at snyder hall on the campus of umpqua community college and we are getting a lot of information. as we talk about police units from multiple jurisdictions are responding to the scene even right now at umpqua community college, the word is that the suspected is in custody or is dead. and i'm sure they're doing a lot of looking to make sure there was just the one suspect there. again, we expect that we will be talking to law enforcement in a news conversation situation perhaps a little later in the day. we'll of course be there on the scene. we have more crews headed that way to be able to bring you a complete picture. we also have a crew on the way to the hospital in roseburg at mercy medical center where we would expect some of those victim who is have been injured in -- victims who have been injured in the shootings will be taken. >> we've been listening to our

affiliate giving us a description as they have it at this point on this breaking news story about a campus shooting in roseburg, oregon. we also have a statement saying that at 10:30 a.m., 1:38 eastern time, the 911 center received a report of a shooting at umpqua community college. police units from multiple jurisdictions responded. students and faculty members are being bussed to fairgrounds where they can be picked up. no further information. al jazeera has a reporter en route to the scene now. he is joining us by phone. alan, what have you learned as you have been travelling en route to roseburg? >> well, we've just been keeping an eye on all the different sources of information coming in over the radio, local tv, also

social media. the most concrete number that we have right now and as in all these cases a very sad an very changeable one is at least seven dead. that's coming from the oregon state police. we've heard different numbers. some people saying ten or up to ten but the oregon state police at least seven according to them at this point. as we understand, the campus is either fully evacuated by now or is in the process of being evacuated to the fairgrounds nearby where they can be picked

up. who role do you guys play in a situation like this? >> we would be monitoring the situation, working with our partners and if requested, we can help provide and allocate resources. do you know who the lead agency is at this point? >> at this point, the local sheriff is the lead and they're being supported by oregon state

police. >> i don't have any information on the lead but i know they'll all be collaborating, communicating, and working together to determine that. >> all right. thank you for that information. there are -- there's information pouring in on twitter from people around campus. brian and i have been getting tweets about, you know, the shooter possibly saying something about -- >> we were just listening to an interview from our affiliate. they were speaking to the local emergency management spokesperson who was repeating the facts as we know them at this point about the shooting at umpqua community college in roseburg, oregon. let's bring in michael dorn again, a school security expert. >> we protect and work with schools pre-k through 20. we work globally. we've worked in 24 countries.

i worked the thurston high shooting in thurston, oregon. we wrote the white house active shooter training program for the 2013 white house school safety initiative. so we worked a lot of these events and are working three campus shootings right now including one active shooter at one junior college event. we provide a wide array of assistance in these situations. >> obviously a fluid situation. we're just learning that the atf is sending in additional agents from portland, oregon along with canine units. as we know it at this point, oregon state police reporting at least seven dead and 20 injured. seven dead and 20 injured at the umpqua community college. a shooting today. our affiliate was reporting earlier that most of the people on campus have been or are being evacuated to the local fairgrounds. there we have an image of ambulances. a lot of ambulances which were

called to that scene today to try to deal with those who were injured. patients arriving now at the hospital. again, 20 injured. at least 20 injured. at least seven unfortunately dead. you were mentioning, mr. dorn, that the k through 12 campuses what we call elementary and high schools, have better systems in place for the most part -- oh, we have a news conference up now. stand by, mr. dorn. >> good afternoon, everyone. thank you for being here. i want to begin by thanking our excellent team for all their hard work over the last few days, we've been meeting with members of our cabinet and our top staff and we've been working hard tracking hurricane joaquin and preparing for the possibility -- >> i'm sorry. we made a mistake there.

that is a news conference about another developing story which is hurricane joaquin. i should have known when i saw wbal. i'm trying to figure out how did wbal in baltimore get out to oregon. but if we still have you up on the phone, mr. dorn? >> yes, sir. >> i was asking you about the difficulty or the difference in security preparedness on k through 12 campuses versus a situation like the community college umpqua? >> right. and i've been a university police lieutenant. i was with the university pd for ten years and was a school district chief for ten. and i was can georgia's school -- with georgia's school safety center. is there have been many more billions of dollars dedicated to k-12 preparedness and planning than there has been to higher ed. the grant money that flowed for more than a decade prior to the virginia tech shooting gave a pretty good leg up to our k-12

schools. now, that said, there are many higher ed institutions that are very top flight with that. we see indications from this that are good. the reporting is accurate and i believe it is from the television imagery, that people are being moved by school buses to a remote evacuation site. that's actually a good sign that they have a fair level of control. when you start to see that. and for a higher ed setting to be bussing, you know, that fast, is a good indication. of course, it's still early to tell as you have mentioned several times. >> and it's also a good indication that authorities were able to respond so quickly not only with law enforcement to take down the shooter, the alleged shooter, but also with the emergency medical technicians who were there with ambulances and treating the wounded who now number at least 20. let's move over now if you will stay with us, mr. dorn.

we have david cat who is the founder and ceo of the global security group. mr. katz, are you on the line with us? is. >> i am, thank you. >> what can you tell us ability the situation out in oregon that you've been monitoring with the rest of us? >> i know nothing more than what i'm hearing on media reports. i would echo what mr. dorn says, that i agree most k through 12 schools have at least something in place. some level of training that they undertake with respect to active shooters or at least strangers. most colleges, many do a good job, but most are woefully undertrained. the point of financing, it's not that big a deal as far as cost. it's more a matter of education and the message is not getting out there. >> does it also have to do with the nature of the people who are on a college campus with respect to community colleges especially. you have part time students, full time students, commuter

students, others who live on campus, adjunct professors who might teach one course. you have a lot of different folks coming in and out. >> yeah. there's a little different dynamic but still there are some minor basic, you know, levels of training that can be given to everybody. by way of example, new york city is becoming the first municipality in the world to require that every tenant in a high-rise building be exposed to active shooter training. every fire station is going to be required by law are going have to understand and know what to do in the event of an active shooter but more importantly tenants, staff, and employees are also going to be trained. every single person over 1,500 buildings in new york city by law. it's not a big stretch to say the same thing with respect to schools, colleges, community colleges. it's not that big a deal.

>> we've been telling you about a shooting on the campus of umpqua community college in roseburg, oregon where at least seven people have been killed. at least 20 people wounded. and they are moving the staff and students from the campus via bus to a fairground where they presumably will be questioned and reunited with their parents and other family members. earlier today this was the scene on campus as police officers were searching bags and other belongings before moving students off campus. we've seen images of ambulances taking the wounded to local hospitals. we're told that the alcohol, tobacco, and firearms agents are en route from portland, oregon to the campus along with k9 units to continue the investigation. at this point the information we have is that the shooter has been taken into custody and at this point we only have word of

one shooter. again, repeating at least seven dead, at least 20 injured in the umpqua community college shooting today in roseburg, oregon. no information on who the shooter is or the motive or weapons used but it's believed that the focus of the investigation is in the snyder science hall on campus. there was another building marked off as well by our affiliate. the first call about this shooting came in shortly after 10:30 pacific time, that would be 1:30 eastern time. a call coming into the 911 center. a report of a shooting. police units from multiple jurisdictions responded immediately. we'll have more information for you right after this on al jazeera america.

continuing coverage on the shooting on the campus of umpqua community college in the southwest corner of oregon. it's a community with about 3,000 students we're told by our affiliat affiliates. and thousands more are commuter

students and part time students and people who have jobs and other obligations who can only go to school part time. they're also in and out of that campus. let's bring in michael dorn on the phone from atlanta. michael, as you know, we're still holding at the oregon state police report of at least seven dead and 20 injured. now, you indicated you have some consultants in the area. were they out there on another case or just tell us about that? >> no, sir. we have two analysts who live in oregon. one lives up in eugene. todd snyder. he's an expert on crime prevention techniques. and my son chris who runs a four-county school safety center. like a lot of our analysts, they have other full time or part time positions. chris runs the school safety center out there and works for us. we've worked quite a bit in oregon and washington state >> we were just looking at some

images here of merge emergency -- emergency vehicles, law enforcement vehicles, a school bus presumably picking students up or taking them to the fairgrounds. access to the campus was immediately dropped off and worried family, spouses, siblings, friends waiting for word on exactly what happened on campus. we're told that the gathering point is the fairgrounds. that's where people are being taken as the investigation continues. and at this point, we're told there's only one shooter involved. you can see there that the campus is very close to the main interstate that runs north and south on the west coast, interstate 5. umpqua community college on its face -- its facebook page is down. we just lost video there. earlier today i spoke to a person who answered the phone on the campus and she indicated

that the officials were preparing a statement and that many, many parents and other loved ones were calling in understandably so. so, mr. dorn, if you were called in on this particular case, where would you begin? in the aftermath of a tragedy like this, what's the first thing you do? >> well, it depends. typically if we're called in at this point, it's mental health. we have mass casualty specialists to come in with the recovery process. i'm more typically called in for forensic investigations. the state agencies often bring us in. i've been brought in on ten k-12 active shooter situations and

we've worked about 300 terrorist attacks on schools, bombs, tornado strikes, fires. the other more typical types of shootings and stabbings. we've got 52 people and we work them here as well as nigeria, kenya. we've been over there after the terrorist attacks in those countries in the last two years. so it various by the client. we often come in for government agencies to write programs for them, self-training programs, web programs, that type of thick. >> as you were speaking, we had a fact sheet up on our screen, information about the school and its location. it's 180 miles south of portland, oregon with nearly 5,000 students, most of them part time. the school founded in the 60s to prepare people in douglas county for jobs or to move on to four-year schools. tell me this: what -- in your experience, what is the most

difficult aspect of school safety for authorities and administrators to get their arms around? i mean, the top priority, what's the most difficult thing for them to do right off the bat? >> well, the first thing is not to overly emphasize any one type of threat. i just spoke at a conference in indiana yesterday and pointed out with k-12 schools we've be 62 deaths in 15 years from active shooter situations. 70% of those deaths were three specific shootings, columbine, sandy hook, and red lake. at the same time, there were 1,300 deaths from other reasons. so active shooters are pretty rare. so one of the challenges is to teach people to prepare for these catastrophic, terrifying events but also not to ignore other threats that actually cause for more deaths in our

k-12 schools and universities. for example, university students are much more likely to die from cancer than from homicide. so we want to make sure we look at traffic safety, the more typical violent acts that may only result in one or two deaths but they add up to more deaths than the active shooter deaths that get so much publicity. that's a big challenge. the next one is we've got so many people implementing things that have no basis of proof behind them that we're actually seeing deaths from that. we're seeing training programs causing a lot of injuries and deaths. they sound good to people but they're really desperate attempts and not grounded in research. >> can you give me an example? >> well, the video released by the houston police department, homeland security. we see people viewing that video perform worse than people with no training at all when we run crisis simulations with them.

training to attack a gunman is last resort. six k-12 administrators have been killed so far from trying to do that. so they sound on their face good but they're thrown out there without testing and validation. these things are really not a good idea. >> let me ask you this because one of the strategies that we sometimes see mentioned after an event of this sort is the idea that someone on campus needs to be armed and not just law enforcement authorities but to keep a gun in the principal's office and even allowing certain instructors to have access to weapons. what's your take on that?