Experts suggest preparing for false alarms due to an increase in swatting and hoaxes in 2023.

A surge in school violence and shootings has been observed by experts in school safety, along with a noticeable increase in false alarms in 2023.

News reports compiled by the National Association of School Resource Officers indicate that there have been approximately 30 incidents per week nationwide since the beginning of the current academic year. The organization reported 34 incidents during the week of December 5, 2022, as compared to the present year’s count.

The incidents in question are often referred to as “swatting” or “hoax threats.” These false alarms encompass different types of reports.

The National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) defines swatting as a false report that describes an existing situation as extremely dangerous and necessitating an extensive emergency response. This includes false reports of shootings.

The K-12 School Shooting Database recorded a total of 728 swatting incidents in 2023, with a peak of 210 incidents in March.

David Riedman, creator of the K-12 School Shooting Database and <