ABSTRACT
This chapter will discuss a category of hazardous events that often comes to mind when we think of crises in the school: acts of violence. Among these terrorist events are drive-by shootings, on-campus shootings, sniper attacks, and bombings. This category of hazardous event is the one of the most likely to cause traumatic stress, resulting in posttraumatic stress disorder (Brock et al., 2009). One feature that acts of violence share with others is that they are typically sudden and unanticipated (an exception is impending war). However, even with warnings, those involved often do not anticipate the severity of the event. Another similarity with many other crises is the fact that the adults in the school as well as the children are affected by violence. For example, a schoolyard shooting or gang killing has the potential to traumatize the teachers, administrators, and guidance staff, as well as students. Thus, these staff members will also need assistance in coping with the aftermath of the crisis, and consequently, it is much more likely that outside crisis response assistance will be needed. The emotions and fears resulting from the mayhem are often more extreme than many other traumatic events.
