By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-869478.mp3
Dallas, TX –
Fort Hood area schools, hospitals and public officials were stunned by the shootings but reacted quickly. KERA's Shelley Kofler has more.
Shortly after the rampage began at 1:30, law enforcement notified the Killeen school district. The district has nine elementary and middle schools on the Fort Hood base. Spokesman Todd Martin said the they immediately locked down the schools to protect the children.
Martin: We're waiting til it's safe to open them up. We're in close contact with the installation and law enforcement.
As word spread that dozens had been shot to death or wounded, hospitals near Fort Hood prepared to accept blood donations.
Perry Jeffries with the Robertson Blood Center on the base asked donors to wait until Friday for information about how to give.
Jeffries: What we don't want is a big rush of donors and not be able to donate blood later. We will take any eligible donor seventeen years of age or older.
Public officials were responding too. From the University of North Texas campus, Governor Rick Perry said Texas Rangers and state troopers were standing by to assist the military. He said the state will lower flags to half staff through Sunday.
Perry: I ask that all of you keep these families and individuals in your prayers.
From Washington, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison dialed a general at Fort Hood. He provided some early information that may shed light on why the alleged gunman Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan opened fire.
Hutchison: He was going to be deployed to Iraq and he was apparently upset about that.
Late Thursday afternoon military officials in Washington confirmed that Hasan, shot by authorities, was a psychiatrist recently transferred to the Fort Hood base.
Federal authorities say Hasan came to their attention some six months ago because of Internet postings that discussed suicide bombings and other threats.