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What to Do in the Event of a Terror Attack

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With a workplace shooting this week at an armed security company in New Jersey and a terrorist threat against Minnesota's Mall of America, shootings and terror attacks are becoming a real threat in the United States.

According to an FBI study on active shooter incidents between 2000 and 2013, mass shootings are on the rise and experts say it's only a matter of time before there's another terrorist attack on American soil.

So what can you do to be prepared?

Former FBI agent Brad Garrett said you might have only seconds to react, and there are generally three options. The first is to run.

"Think about where you're going. Don't trap yourself, don't walk yourself into a dead-end hallway, and that's why it's important to know your building," Garrett said.

If you can't get away, you hide.

"The first thing you do is you shut the lights off and you shut the door," he continued. "You barricade the door (and) put your cellphone on silent."

As a last resort, you can fight back.

"If it's between you and him, you might as well try to save your life," Garrett reasoned.

When it comes to a terror attack, the Department of Homeland Security saod at this point, no specific threats have been identified and they ask that Americans remain calm, but stay alert.

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About The Author

Caitlin Burke Headshot
Caitlin
Burke

Caitlin Burke serves as National Security Correspondent and a general assignment reporter for CBN News. She has also hosted the CBN News original podcast, The Daily Rundown. Some of Caitlin’s recent stories have focused on the national security threat posed by China, America’s military strength, and vulnerabilities in the U.S. power grid. She joined CBN News in July 2010, and over the course of her career, she has had the opportunity to cover stories both domestically and abroad. Caitlin began her news career working as a production assistant in Richmond, Virginia, for the NBC affiliate WWBT