In the aftermath of the mass shooting event in Aurora, Colorado, the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security has announced the release of a video that provides key steps individuals should take if they encounter an active shooter.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of Aurora's tragic shooting, along with their friends, family and community," said Mayor Annise Parker. "I can't imagine the horror and grief. If it is at all possible for any good to come out of it, perhaps it can be letting people know the options to consider if it happens again."

“We hope our residents are never confronted with such an event, but we want to prepare them with some important information if they ever find themselves in this situation,” said Dennis J. Storemski, director of the Mayor's Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Although active shooter events are unpredictable, motives are different, and warning signs may vary, there are three things citizens can do to increase chances of safety and survival—Run. Hide. Fight.

The City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security produced the informational video Run.Hide.Fight. Surviving an Active Shooter Event, which reenacts various Run.Hide.Fight. scenarios. The video encourages citizens to evaluate the situation and:

• Run if a safe path is available. Always try and escape or evacuate even if others insist on staying. Encourage others to leave with you, but don’t let the indecision of others slow down your own effort to escape.
• Once you are out of the line of fire, try to prevent others from walking into the danger zone and call 9-1-1.
• If you can’t get out safely, find a place to hide.
• When hiding, turn out lights, remember to lock doors and silence your ringer and vibration mode on your cell phone
• As a last resort, working together or alone, act with aggression--use improvised weapons and fight.