Climate disruption creates wildfires, floods, hurricanes, tornados, and social unrest may precipitate harassment, violence, or active shooters. Creating security is an ongoing process.

Shocking events reported in the media can cause congregations to take immediate action on emergency and security issues, but emergency planning is a long-term process. Regularly updating plans and policies, as well as keeping the congregation informed and trained, requires consistent attention.

General Preparedness for Disasters

FEMA’s Guide for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Houses of Worship (PDF) helps congregations plan for the spectrum of threats and hazards they may face. It will help you identify possible threats and hazards and assesses the risk and vulnerabilities posed by them for prioritization and planning. Use this guide as a starting point for any of the planning in this section.