August 2025 — Active Shooters Were in the News a Lot This Summer

There’s a lot going on in the world of physical risk and vulnerability; it’s nearly impossible to keep up with the latest news and developments. We’ll keep you informed with the best content to keep your organization safe and secure. Check out the top news and headlines from the past month.

Shooter attacked CDC headquarters to protest COVID-19 vaccines

From the AP: On Friday, August 8, a man fired more than 180 shots with a long gun at the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.The gunman, who fatally wounded a police officer, later barricaded himself inside a nearby CVS Pharmacy where he was found dead. He reportedly wanted to send a message against COVID-19 vaccines.

Our take:This tragedy is an example of the threats that have been faced by health officials over the last few years, thanks to political rhetoric about the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccinations. It is important that organizations are aware of these threats and consider ways to be proactive to reduce these risks.

NFL increases security at its offices after shooting

From the AP: The NFL has increased security at its offices following a shooting last month at a Manhattan building by a gunman authorities say was targeting league headquarters. Investigators believe the Las Vegas man was trying to get to the NFL offices after shooting several people in the building’s lobby, then another in a 33rd-floor office on July 28, before he killed himself, authorities said.

Our take: Mass shootings are an epidemic. When one happens, others tend to follow. It's a waterfall effect; seeing other shootings pushes people who are already struggling but who might not have decided to commit a shooting over a line. When one happens organizations should be on heightened alert and use threat behavioral intelligence.

Protecting the ‘people's house’: Minnesota panel confronts security concerns

From Axios: Following a violent incident in June that injured lawmakers and resulted in a death, Minnesota lawmakers reconvened in mid-August to consider installing metal detectors and reforming security protocols at the state capitol.

Our take: The rise in political anger is driving individuals to extremes. This will continue for years. Executive protection should be vital for all politicians and executives.

Hive ends support for home security devices

From The Sun: Did you have a Hive doorbell camera? Did you forget to save your video recordings? Well, they’re gone now. Hive, owned by Centrica, pulled support for several of its home security gadgets, most notably its cameras and sirens. Users lost access to stored footage after August 1 unless they backed it up by then.

Our take: Hive’s discontinued support isn’t a surprise; Hive announced that it would be discontinuing its cameras three years ago, and has been reminding its customers to back up data ever since. However, the move is an interesting one; it reflects a broader trend of companies shifting away from older, resource-intensive products to leaner products.

August Top Security Grants

Fiscal Year 2025 Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund Program: The objective of the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program is to capitalize or recapitalize entity-established revolving loan funds that will provide low-interest loans to local governments most in need of financing assistance to complete hazard mitigation projects and activities. The program aims to reduce risks from natural hazards for homeowners, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and communities in order to decrease the loss of life and property, the cost of insurance, and federal disaster payments. Grant closes: September 30

Fiscal Year 2024 Flood Mitigation Assistance Swift Current: Fiscal Year 2024 Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Swift Current aims to better align the delivery of FMA flood mitigation funding to the disaster survivor experience. The purpose of FMA Swift Current is to reduce or eliminate the flood risk to NFIP-participating communities and repetitive flood damage to structures and buildings insured by the NFIP following a flood-related disaster event, and to enhance community flood resilience within NFIP-participating communities. It does so by providing funding for mitigation opportunities immediately after a flood disaster event with the aim of delivering mitigation outcomes. Grant closes: Jan 15, 2026

Systems-Based Approaches to Improve Patient Safety by Improving Healthcare Worker Safety and Well-Being: The purpose of this grant is to advance system-level approaches to improve patient safety by improving healthcare worker safety and well-being. Patient safety cannot be fully achieved without healthcare worker safety and well-being. This NOFO will contribute to AHRQs goal of reinvigorating the patient safety movement by adding fresh perspectives and insights of healthcare professionals to efforts to improve patient safety. Grant closes: 2029

About the Author

Daniel Young

Founder & Chief Innovation Officer

Daniel has been a security and risk advisor for more than 10 years, and is passionate about helping companies to better understand their risks to undesirable events on a daily basis. Dan previously served as the Regional Bioterrorism Coordinator for District 1 in Michigan, where he was instrumental in preparing communities for catastrophic incidents. He has also acted as the Private Security Liaison for the City of Lansing’s Critical Infrastructure Team, which identified and documented deficiencies in the city’s critical infrastructure.

He is a Co-Founder of the CSO Risk Council, a think tank of seasoned security professionals and thought leaders with extensive experience in managing the physical security and risks of large enterprises consisting of multiple sites and whose mission is to create a better process to develop and share innovative solutions and pertinent information with organizations to improve safety and security risk by providing a forum to discuss best practices and recommendations for specific risk scenarios and to network with other enterprise security professionals.