Tag: U.S. Department of Homeland Security

  • Loveland Police and Fire answer: What to do in an active shooter situation

    Loveland Police and Fire answer: What to do in an active shooter situation

    This is a reprint of a story we published in late January

    Cassie Mattia is a columnist for Loveland Magazine and a resident of Historic Downtown.

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Have you even taken a minute and thought about what you or a loved one would do if an active shooter came into where you work, where you get your morning coffee or even where your child attends school? The question has been asked in many conversations that I have partaken in, which made me wonder; what exactly are the Loveland Police and Fire Department doing to help our community not only be safe, but feel prepared in an active shooter scenario. In the interview below Loveland Police Officer Jessie Moore (Loveland School Resource Officer) and Loveland-Symmes Fire Department’s Deputy-Chief Mike Books (EMS Chief of Operations) talk to Loveland Magazine about the active shooter training they will be teaching in schools, churches and local businesses!

    Watch this LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV interview hear how your safety as well as your family’s safety is Loveland’s number one priority!


    Active Shooter Event – An active shooter event involves one or more persons engaged in killing or attempting to kill multiple people in an area occupied by multiple unrelated individuals. (https://bit.ly/2RFpPV0)

    EMS – Emergency Medical Services

    The acronym for Emergency Medical Services. This term refers to the treatment and transport of people in crisis health situations that may be life threatening. … EMS are staffed by trained medical professionals, called EMTs, or emergency medical technicians.

    ALICE – Active Shooter Civilian Response Training

        ALERT is your first notification of danger

        LOCKDOWN is to secure in place, and prepare to EVACUATE or COUNTER, if needed.

        INFORM is communicate the violent intruder’s location and direction in real time.

        COUNTER is to create Noise, Movement, Distance and Distraction with the intent of reducing    the shooter’s ability to shoot accurately. Counter is NOT fighting.

        EVACUATE is to remove yourself from the danger zone when it is safe to do so.

    Department of Homeland – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security works to improve the security of the United States. The Department’s work includes customs, border, and immigration enforcement, emergency response to natural and manmade disasters, antiterrorism work, and cybersecurity.

        Ohio Homeland Security is established to “Improve statewide terrorism prevention and protection programs by maintaining appropriate policies, developing staffing plans, and providing for continuity of operations”. They, “Maintain a process for intelligence analysis and production that emphasizes the development and distribution of strategic and actionable intelligence. Strengthen the resiliency of Ohio’s critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR) by collaborating with public and private partners to identify vulnerabilities, share information, and facilitate the development of protective programs”.

        The Hamilton County Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency (EMHSA) is authorized by Ohio Revised Code to coordinate and administer countywide all-hazards emergency management and disaster preparedness functions for Hamilton County and its political subdivisions.

    Run – Hide – Fight

        RUN. • Have an escape route and plan in mind. • Leave your belongings behind

        HIDE. • Hide in an area out of the shooter’s view. • Block entry to your hiding place

        FIGHT. • As a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger.

    See Something, Say Something – “If You See Something, Say Something™” is a national campaign that raises public awareness of the indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime, as well as the importance of reporting suspicious activity to state and local law enforcement.

    To report suspicious activity please contact your local law enforcement. Describe specifically what you observed, including:

    • Who or what you saw;

    • When you saw it;

    • Where it occurred; and

    • Why it’s suspicious.

         If there is an emergency, call 9–1–1.

    Stop the Bleed Program – Stop the Bleed is a national awareness campaign and call-to-action. Stop the Bleed is intended to cultivate grassroots efforts that encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives.

    Stop the Bleed Kit – A Stop the Bleed Kit contains basic products for emergency responders or civilians to address a traumatic bleeding situation. Many kits for civilian use are available for on-line purchase.

    Tourniquet – A device for stopping the flow of blood through a vein or artery, typically by compressing a limb with a cord or tight bandage.

    Loveland PD – Loveland Police Department is located at the Loveland Safety Center, 126 S Lebanon Road Loveland, OH 45140 and can be reached at: 513-583-3000

    Loveland-Symmes Fire Department – Headquartered at the Loveland Safety Center,126 S Lebanon Road Loveland, OH 45140. For non-emergencies they can be contacted at 513-583-3001. Located throughout the city and township there are four firehouses, which house personnel and equipment that respond to emergencies when needed.



      Relaxed atmosphere and friendly service welcomes you back time and time again! Located in the heart of the Historic Loveland District Just outside Cincinnati.



  • Sherrod Brown announces $28,572 to Goshen Township Fire and EMS

    Sherrod Brown announces $28,572 to Goshen Township Fire and EMS

    Washington, D.C. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a total of $163,811 to two Clermont County fire departments for operations and safety through the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program.The funds include:

    • $135,239 to the Wayne Township Fire and Rescue
    • $28,572 to the Goshen Township Fire and EMS

    “Ohio firefighters and first-responders work every day to protect our families,” said Brown.“We must support our first-responder organizations so that communities in Clermont County have the resources to shield families and homes from fire hazards.”

    The AFG Program supports fire departments across the country to ensure the safety of both first-responders and the public. The program provides funds for supplemental training, upgrades to protective equipment, facility modifications, and other supplies that protect firefighters and first-responders in moments of crisis. Grants are awarded to fire department-based and non-affiliated EMS organizations that best address the priorities of the AFG Program. More information about the AFG Program can be found here.

    Interested fire departments can contact Brown’s grant coordinator to receive information about federal grant opportunities by clicking here.



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  • Tiger Safety Update from the Superintendent

    Tiger Safety Update from the Superintendent

    by Dr. Amy Crouse, Loveland Superintendent

    It has been one month since I communicated with you in a formal way about Tiger Safety; at that time I was reacting as interim superintendent to the sadness we all felt in Tiger Nation to the news of the February 14 fatal school shooting in Parkland, Fla. Since that event, I have heard from many of you with questions about safety. As such, I wanted to bring you up-to-speed on the work we have been involved in.

    I have heard from many of you with questions about safety.

    Immediately following the February 14 event, after our buildings had a chance to review safety procedures, the district sent a comprehensive safety survey to our Tiger Staff. This survey created an opportunity for every employee – secretaries, teachers, administrators, food service professionals, transportation, custodial professionals and paraprofessionals – to tell senior leaders very directly what opportunities we, as a district, had to enhance the safety of our campus.

    Monday, March 12, safety experts from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Greater Cincinnati Fusion Center, and Loveland Police Chief Sean Rahe conducted a safety assessment of our buildings.

    Monday, March 12, safety experts from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Greater Cincinnati Fusion Center, and Loveland Police Chief Sean Rahe conducted a safety assessment of our buildings, so they could also make recommendations on how we could improve security.

    Additionally, we have collected the comments we have received from parents – from social media posts to emails to Board meetings – and all of those concerns were categorized and presented to a special meeting of our District Safety Committee Thursday, March 15. This was the opportunity for our core team to talk through the suggestions with our community’s professional emergency responders to begin to develop a plan of action with clear priorities.

    As the superintendent of the Loveland City School District, what I want you to know is this: We aren’t just listening – we are taking action. The safety and security of our students and staff is a top priority for our Board of Education. It is a top priority for me as your educational leader.

    If you have questions related to safety, please see this comprehensive resource (http://www.lovelandschools.org/TigerSafety.aspx)

    I will continue to bring you updates on Tiger Safety as we work through the process. In the meantime, if you have questions related to safety, please see this comprehensive resource (http://www.lovelandschools.org/TigerSafety.aspx) we have made available for our Tiger families to review how we are trained and the resources we currently have to keep our district safe. Don’t hesitate to contact your principal for any questions specific to your student’s building.

    In service to our Tigers,

    Dr. Amy Crouse

    Superintendent
    Loveland City School District