HUMBOLDT COMMUNITY SENDS SENTIMENTS TO CONNECTICUT SHOOTING VICTIMS

Some flags in Humboldt County are at half-staff to show sympathy for the victims of the Connecticut elementary school shooting.
 
"I’m confused and sadden,” said Lisa Mitchell. “I don't really know what would possess someone to do something like that."
 
"I definitely think there's a problem with violence in our society," said Matthew Smith-Caggiano.
 
"I don't even know,” said Cindy Harrington. “I mean obviously it's an overwhelming tragedy, I couldn’t even fathom how to react to that."
 
"I think about the students that I go and visit in their classrooms and the thought is just mind numbing," said Eureka City Schools Superintendent Fred Van Vleck.
 
For Van Vleck, this is something he has to prepare for.
 
"We have experts come in from out of the district and work with staff on safety plans,” Van Vleck said. “And then we make sure the staff know the safety plans and the protocol if something like this or a natural disaster ever occur."
 
Van Vleck isn’t able to go into details about the safety plan, because it could compromise the safety of the school—if something like this were to ever happen, but he did say that schools districts in Humboldt County follow the same plan.
 
"It’s really working as a partnership with our school district, other school districts, and partnering up with other law enforcement agencies in the area," Van Vleck said.
 
Bettina Eipper is the Principal of Coastal Grove Charter School in Arcata.
 
“We review our safety plan annually,” Eipper said. “We have lockdowns— we take it very seriously."
 
Mitchell is a parent of a child at Coastal Grove Charter School, and said her thoughts are with the families of the victims. 
 
"I’m confident that the families of Humboldt County will send out their energy to those families to get through this difficult time," Mitchell said.