Severe Weather Safety: How to Protect Your Church and Congregation
With the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, it's a stark reminder of how critical it is to have a comprehensive and actionable emergency response plan for severe weather events.
Emergency Response Plan: Severe Weather
Developing and implementing an emergency response plan for severe weather is essential for minimizing risks to both people and property. Here are some key considerations and a three-step action plan to help guide your church in developing or refining its emergency response strategy.
Severe Weather Protocols/Policies
Automatic Service Cancellations: Establish clear criteria for when church services are canceled, such as when local schools close, weather warnings are issued, or a state of emergency is declared.
Decision-Making Procedures: Designate specific individuals responsible for assessing road and weather conditions and making recommendations about service cancellations or closures of church or ministry buildings.
Communication of Cancellations: Use multiple channels to communicate cancellations—social media, group emails, texts, and phone messages—to ensure all attendees are informed quickly.
Evacuation Protocols: Set up designated evacuation routes, clarify who has the authority to initiate evacuations, and outline the responsibilities for clearing areas and shutting down critical systems.
Children’s Safety During Evacuations: Ensure procedures are in place for the safe retrieval of children, with a system to account for their safety and whereabouts during evacuations.
Worker Education and Training: Assign responsibility for developing and conducting training sessions to ensure all workers are familiar with protocols and can perform them effectively during emergencies.
Specific Recommendations
Pre-Emptive Service Cancellations: Cancel services early in the case of severe weather warnings, especially for tornadoes, floods, ice storms, hail, or hurricanes.
Clear Communication: Inform church members, staff, and students promptly when services or other activities are canceled.
Regular Drills: Conduct regular severe weather drills, particularly for tornado-prone areas, and ensure that all workers, including rotating staff, have the opportunity to participate.
Parental Instructions: Make sure parents know how they will be contacted and how to retrieve their children during drills or actual severe weather events.
Special Assistance: Ensure protocols are in place for assisting vulnerable groups, such as young children, those with disabilities, and the elderly, during evacuations.
As we learn more and more about Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact, it is an important reminder to be prepared. By following these guidelines and regularly practicing your emergency response plan, you can safeguard your congregation and ensure that everyone knows what to do when severe weather strikes.
Preparedness saves lives, and with clear communication and thoughtful planning, your church can weather the storm.
For more information about creating an Emergency Response Plan, please download this booklet.
