Local students grapple with life and death scenarios after Florida school shooting

LAFAYETTE HILL, Pa. (WTXF) - Parents and teenagers around the U.S. are shaken after the Florida high school shooting. In light of the tragedy, there are students in the Delaware Valley wishing to make a difference. They wanted to stop the school violence before February 14's shooting. Now, they are even more determined to work hard.

Student Marissa Nerenberg stated, "We saw Snapchats of people, people hiding in closets, crying hysterically, hearing gunshots in the background."

High school sophomore Nerenberg and many of her classmates at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School in Lafayette Hill are rattled after seeing graphic images of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

17 people were killed when police say former student Nikolas Cruz opened fire shortly before dismissal February 14.

"16-year-olds shouldn't have to go through that. That could easily have been me, easily been Grace and that is so scary to think about," Nerenberg explained.

Marissa and her friend Grace McCall recently came up with the idea of starting an anti-gun violence club at school. Ironically, they received final approval for the club Tuesday, February 13.

"I'm sad that I actually have to start this club. Parkland is just another reason for us to raise awareness and it is very sad," said student Grace McCall.

This school, like most across the area, has many security measures in place to keep students safe, holding regular drills about what to do in the case of any active shooter. Still, some worry about what they would do in a real life and death situation.

"I always think about my exit route, how the windows are, where can I hide," stated Nerenberg.

"I've thought about it. It's just more scary, like, you can always be trapped and how would you get out and what about your friends and stuff too," said sophomore Dylan Moldovsky.

"Is any place safe anymore?" asked Grace McCall.