The Inter-Mountain photo by Sarah Goodrich Buckhannon Mayor David McCauley, left, and Councilman CJ Rylands heard the annual report from Buckhannon Police Chief Matt Gregory.

BUCKHANNON — As the nation reels from Wednesday’s tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Buckhannon City Council expressed sympathy for the victims’ families and those affected.

News outlets report that the mass shooting claimed 17 lives — 14 students, two coaches and one teacher — and left 14 wounded.

Mayor David McCauley read aloud a statement on behalf of the city.

“I suppose we all seek reassurance that nothing like that ever could happen here. I’m sure the good folks in Parkland … mostly thought that when they sent their kids off to school yesterday morning – that nothing like that could ever happen,” he said. “Of course it could happen here or anywhere else in the United States.”

In the statement that McCauley read he stressed, “We have to do something different in this country than what we’ve done so far.”

Noting this is the 18th school shooting of 2018, McCauley said “enough is enough.”

He said he asked the police chief and fire chief about the city’s state of readiness should a tragedy strike the county.

Buckhannon fire chief JB Kimble and Buckhannon police chief Matthew Gregory issued a joint statement.

“As members of the Buckhannon-Upshur public safety community, our hearts and prayers go out to those struggling with the shooting tragedy in Parkland, Florida,” it read. “These senseless acts of violence, which are unfortunately too common in today’s world, never cease to shock the conscience of our society.”

The statement assures residents of the community that “while absolute prevention of this type of violence is something that may never be achieved completely,” the fire and police departments work together to ensure the safety of the schools.

“Through not only the close professional working relationship that we have between our agencies, but also with other public safety agencies and especially the Upshur County Board of Education and all Upshur County schools,” reads the combined statement, “we stand ready to respond should any harm present itself to our students or school staff.”

Meetings are held regularly between all agencies and safety plans are in placed, reads the statement. The layout of each school building is well known, according to the statement.

“The safety of our schools is an utmost priority to each of our agencies, and as we come to work each and every day we will always strive to meet this goal,” concludes the statement.