Preparing for Disaster: Church Resources
Preparing for Disaster: Church Resources
New Resource:
Protecting Your Church: Considerations in the Wake of Civil Unrest from the Insurance Board
Resources for Lay Leaders in the Church
Disaster Preparedness in the Local Church. Share this resource to your congregation's moderator, deacons, property/buildings committee, finance committee, Christian education, missions/outreach, and your church members.
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NEW Active Shooter Preparedness: Links to Resources Our church is our sanctuary, but it is not immune to realities of our world. In the disaster world language it’s called ‘active shooter.’ In most churches the only ones who can observe who is coming into worship is the pastor in the pulpit, maybe the choir from the loft, and possibly the greeters or deacons at the door. Most of the congregation is facing the other direction. But there are resources to consult: Insurance Board: People, Safety and Liability UCC Local Church Disaster Preparedness and Response Planning Guidelines Welcoming & Watchful: An Open Letter to Old South Church Ushers, Greeters, and Welcomers Church Mutual Insurance Armed Intruder Series Emergency Preparedness Policy and Procedures from UU of Fort Wayne Homeland Security and Preparedness Training Center National Disaster Interfaith Network: Tip Sheets for U.S. Religious Leaders Department of Homeland Security Active Shooter Event Reference Guide |
Ongoing Preparation:
- Send out email with suggestions and preparations when disaster is predicted
- Seek host churches for out-of-state disaster response volunteers
- Provide workshops for church preparedness
- Emotional resilience
- Media usage training
- Church and personal preparedness: Including directions for “Shelter in Place” resources.
- Assist churches to connect with their local community disaster response protocol and people
- Provide online and social media trainings and educational resources including web links to existing resources
- Recruit and train additional clergy and lay experienced mentors and volunteers
- Explore trauma remediation and resilience resources and trainings
- Provide resources for annual emergency preparedness day/month
Advanced Preparation:
- Send out email with suggestions and preparations when disaster is predicted
- Discuss disaster response protocols with church leadership
- Contact local disaster management officials to learn about disaster response protocols and any role the church is expected to play
- Discuss disaster response protocols with ecumenical and civil society partners
General Resources
Local Church Disaster Preparedness and Response Planning Guide, from the United Church of Christ
Disaster Tips Sheets from the National Disaster Interfaiths Network
Could Your Church be an Emergency Shelter?
Backpack Emergency Cards - Have a blessing of the backpacks and fill out emergency cards in church
Resources on Fire Safety
While we all know that the church is not a building, the loss of your building due to fire is often devastating for a congregation. Have a look at these resources as a first step toward protecting your church.
- Religious Candle Safety, a new resource from the National Fire Protection Agency
- Protecting our church buildings from fire, some items for your church safety checklist.