Church Security and Emergency Preparedness

 It is important that churches prepare for unforeseen emergencies in order to be able to keep our worship community safe and our buildings and property secure. Because natural disasters and other emergencies often strike with little to no warning, developing an emergency plan for our church community goes a long way when responding to a disaster.

In addition to natural disasters, an unfortunate reality of the social climate we are in today is that, in response to The Episcopal Church's commitment to inclusivity and social justice, churches may at times become targets for vandalism, theft, or, in rarer cases, threats and violence. While incidents like this do not sway our conviction to stand with Jesus and reflect the fully inclusive and expansive love of God by supporting our siblings who have been pushed to the margins, they do make it increasingly important to consider how we prepare and respond to these kind of threats to ensure the safety of those who gather in our spaces.

One way to prepare for emergencies is to develop a relationship with your local police and fire departments, make sure they know your space well, and ask for their recommendations. Here are some additional resources that may be helpful in developing a plan to keep our communities and buildings safe in the event of an emergency:

• Episcopal Relief and Development Disaster Planning

• FEMA Guide for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Houses of Worship

• Grants available from FEMA for security upgrades to churches and non-profits

• Homeland Security Resources for Faith-Based Events and Houses of Worship

• FEMA’s 5 Ways to Improve the Safety and Security of Your Place of Worship or Community Spaces

• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Resources