Sig556r
08-12-2019, 09:45 AM
Being a Tax-free weekend in Texas, malls & stores were packed with shoppers, mostly with kids in tow, taking advantage in prep for school opening.
T'was a quiet Sunday, attended mass, grab a quick lunch then off to Memorial City Mall in West Houston to pick up school supplies. Scarce parking, decided to drop wife & daughter (youngest stayed with me, he hates shopping) so they can have a headstart.
5 mins driving around, I noticed people running away from mall entrances most on their cellphones signalling others to turn back. I immediately parked & instructed my son to stay put while I assess the situation. It was hard to pick up the pieces from conflicting accounts from most scampering people I asked.
Tried calling wife & daughter but lines were busy. Finally got texts from my sister (not on the scene) saying she got texts from my wife & daughter, they're holding out in a store stockroom since the storekeeper believe there was an active shooter. They added that I don't enter the mall & keep my youngest safe. I was so helpless trying to calm my son & at the same time thinking what if.
Then I saw a calm lady on her phone just getting on her car & I asked her what's going on. She narrated that she was dining at the mall's foodcourt when a masked man stood up a table & started shouting triggering an instant mass dispersion of people. She added that she didn't hear any gunshots so she just waited it out before walking away after the stampede. After the dust settled, it turned out that her account was the accurate one.
After half an hour & saw lots of cops getting in & out of the mall, I decided to get in & headed directly to the store where wife & daughter were. Kudos to HPD's quick response, they're already methodically going thru all stores, entry/exits, getting all shoppers to calmly head to the designated egress point. Great relief when I saw my wife still trembling & angry at the same time why I fail to pick up any of their calls. I just hug both of them & took them out to safety.
Takeways:
1. Cellphones may not be as reliable when a lot of people are trying to get thru in times of mass panic.
2. Most people frantically fleeing away from a potential threat have unreliable account of what's going on. Worse if you rely on social media. Better to look for calmer ones to ask.
3. Being separated with your loved ones in a crowded place will make you feel helpless in times of a possible threat.
4. Ensuing traffic jam was hellish, could have been a bigger disaster had their been a real threat.
5. Injuries, kids separated, elders needing medical attention, lost items were all brought about by hysteria as everyone is racing away from something they know nothing about. Shoppers on edge due to recent events will make own stories in their heads in times of panic.
Be safe out there guys.
T'was a quiet Sunday, attended mass, grab a quick lunch then off to Memorial City Mall in West Houston to pick up school supplies. Scarce parking, decided to drop wife & daughter (youngest stayed with me, he hates shopping) so they can have a headstart.
5 mins driving around, I noticed people running away from mall entrances most on their cellphones signalling others to turn back. I immediately parked & instructed my son to stay put while I assess the situation. It was hard to pick up the pieces from conflicting accounts from most scampering people I asked.
Tried calling wife & daughter but lines were busy. Finally got texts from my sister (not on the scene) saying she got texts from my wife & daughter, they're holding out in a store stockroom since the storekeeper believe there was an active shooter. They added that I don't enter the mall & keep my youngest safe. I was so helpless trying to calm my son & at the same time thinking what if.
Then I saw a calm lady on her phone just getting on her car & I asked her what's going on. She narrated that she was dining at the mall's foodcourt when a masked man stood up a table & started shouting triggering an instant mass dispersion of people. She added that she didn't hear any gunshots so she just waited it out before walking away after the stampede. After the dust settled, it turned out that her account was the accurate one.
After half an hour & saw lots of cops getting in & out of the mall, I decided to get in & headed directly to the store where wife & daughter were. Kudos to HPD's quick response, they're already methodically going thru all stores, entry/exits, getting all shoppers to calmly head to the designated egress point. Great relief when I saw my wife still trembling & angry at the same time why I fail to pick up any of their calls. I just hug both of them & took them out to safety.
Takeways:
1. Cellphones may not be as reliable when a lot of people are trying to get thru in times of mass panic.
2. Most people frantically fleeing away from a potential threat have unreliable account of what's going on. Worse if you rely on social media. Better to look for calmer ones to ask.
3. Being separated with your loved ones in a crowded place will make you feel helpless in times of a possible threat.
4. Ensuing traffic jam was hellish, could have been a bigger disaster had their been a real threat.
5. Injuries, kids separated, elders needing medical attention, lost items were all brought about by hysteria as everyone is racing away from something they know nothing about. Shoppers on edge due to recent events will make own stories in their heads in times of panic.
Be safe out there guys.