On Saturday, June 27, nearly 200 individuals representing over 40 agencies from Lawrence County and throughout the Tri-State met together at the Collins Career Center near Getaway, Ohio, to conduct a training session on school emergency response.

Training events require careful planning and coordination; therefore several months ago a planning team was formed to organize and facilitate the training.

I appreciate the efforts of the team and the time and effort they expended to make the event happen.

Real life school crisis situations bring together multiple agencies and resources, and it is critical that these organizations practice their response to such an event.

Training exercises serve to strengthen overall preparedness and to build better working relationships between agencies.

On behalf of the planning team, I would like to thank the following individuals, businesses, agencies and organizations who made the day a great success through their support or participation.

School Districts: Collins Career Center; Rock Hill; Fairland; Dawson-Bryant; Symmes Valley; Ironton City; Chesapeake: West Clermont School District; South Point School District; Open Door School.

Law Enforcement agencies: Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association Communications Vehicle (staffed by Ross County Sheriff’s Office); Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office; Lawrence County Adult Probation; Chesapeake Police Department; Coal Grove Police Department; Hanging Rock Police Department; Gallipolis Police Department; Ohio Highway Patrol: Ohio Investigative Unit; Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Fire Departments/Volunteer Fire Departments (VFD):

Chesapeake-Union Township VFD; Coal Grove VFD; Decatur Township VFD; Hamilton Township VFD; Lawrence Township VFD; Proctorville Community Volunteer Fire and Rescue; South Point VFD: Upper Township VFD; Windsor Township VFD; Nelsonville Fire Department; Lavalette VFD.

Emergency Medical Services:

South East Ohio Emergency Medical Services; Cabell County Emergency Medical Services; HealthNet/MedFlight Aeromedical; MTS Ambulance.

911/Emergency Management Agency (EMA):

Ohio Emergency Management Agency; Lawrence County EMA; Jackson County EMA; Athens County EMA; Lawrence County 911; Lawrence County LEPC; Southern Ohio Amateur Radio Association

Support Agencies: NECCO Center; Southeast Ohio Critical Incident Stress Management; Veteran’s Administration.

Sponsors and Donations:

Bill Allen, Paul Hart, Michael Boster, Eric Kuhn, Buddy Fry, HealthNet-MedFlight, Collins Career Center, Black Diamond Produce, South Hills Longbeards, Chapter of the NWTF, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, The Corner Café, Heiner’s Bread, 7-UP Bottling, Lawrence LEPC, Life Ambulance, Holliday’s Quick Stop.

The goal of this type of training as well as the goal of every school district official, emergency response agency and support organization is to keep the students, staff and teachers and themselves safe.

Time and effort spent working toward that goal is time well-invested.

Jeff Lawless, Lawrence County Sheriff