The Protocol & Playbook
The Mass Shooting Protocol & Playbook were developed to help civic leaders prepare for, respond to, and help their community recover from, a mass shooting. Links to these resources are provided below and on the homepage.
To help leaders quickly find information, links to the individual Playbook chapters and appendices are also provided below.
Mass Shooting Protocol
The Protocol highlights the key decisions a leader needs to make immediately following a mass shooting. It contains a checklist and links to the Playbook for detailed information. To download the Protocol, click here.
Mass Shooting Playbook
The Playbook is a comprehensive resource that covers a leader’s primary responsibilities during the three phases of a mass shooting: preparedness, response, and recovery.
To read the Playbook online, click here. Note: the Playbook can be downloaded into a Kindle app for future reference.
Printing: the Playbook is a 202-page file. Use this link to print the entire file on your home or office printer. Use the links below to print individual chapters or appendices.
Links to Playbook Chapters and Appendices
Foreword
Introduction by Mayor Nan Whaley, who responded to the mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio on August 4, 2019.
2025 Update: Note from the Field
Highland Park Mayor Nancy and City Manager Ghida Neukirch describe how they emphasized readiness leading up to the mass shooting in their city on July 4, 2022.
Chapter 1: Crisis Communications
Strategies for engaging with the press, social media management, and developing trauma-informed messaging
Chapter 2: Emergency Operations
Operationalizing the emergency response to a mass shooting through municipal preparedness plans and systems
Chapter 3: Victim and Family Assistance
Key considerations for providing services to victims and their families
Chapter 4: Collaborating with First Responders
Best practices for ensuring first responders are equipped and trained to save lives, and guidance for providing first responders support following an incident
Chapter 5: Managing Donations and Volunteers
Best practices for establishing the victims’ fund and managing volunteers
Chapter 6: School Shootings
Issues and resources specific to school shootings, including school security considerations and student mental health and wellness
Chapter 7: Community Partnerships
Strategies for engaging local and national partners in the preparation, response, and recovery phases (especially important for victims’ services)
Chapter 8: Legal Considerations
Issues that should be reviewed by the city’s attorneys to reduce potential liability
Chapter 9: Commemorations
Guidance for commemorating the victims, planning permanent memorials, and preserving artifacts
Chapter 10: Mental Health
Information and resources related to trauma recovery and community resilience
Appendix A: Readiness Toolkit
Appendix B: Managing Visits from Elected Officials
Appendix C: Funding Sources for Cities
Appendix D: Strategies to Prevent Mass Killings
Appendix E: National Mass Violence Center Resources
Appendix F: A Note About Community Gun Violence
Appendix G: After Action Review
Appendix H: Mass Shooting-Related Acronyms