For a church emergency preparedness list of response plans — everything from bomb threats to hostage situations — check out the emergency action plan developed by First United Methodist Church of Santa Rosa, Calif.
Church Emergency Preparedness: a 5-step Guide
1. Stay calm
Stay calm!
No matter what happens, panic is never helpful. As a church leader, you can’t control how others behave in an emergency, but you are responsible for staying calm yourself and restoring order when chaos ensues.
When I was a teenager I worked as a lifeguard, and one lesson we learned during training that remains with me today is that you can’t rescue a drowning person if you’re drowning yourself. When everyone else is running around in a panic, one clear, calm voice can make all the difference.
As Dr. Gail Gross wrote in a Huffington Post article, “you are at a great disadvantage whenever you approach any emergency emotionally, rather than logically.”
Gross goes on to recommend using muscle relaxation, breathing, visualization, and stretching exercises to practice staying calm in stressful situations.
Bonus tip: Consider taking classes in first aid, CPR, and other emergency preparedness techniques so that you’re comfortable and well-prepared when an emergency develops. FEMA offers a great list of related resources.
2. Trust your instincts
Keep your eyes open, though
You know your church, you know your congregation. If something doesn’t feel right or seems off, it probably means something is wrong. Trust your gut.
If you see a suspicious package that looks out of place or if someone is behaving unusually, look into it. You are the one who needs to take charge and speak up; don’t wait for someone else to make a move.
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As science writer, Alaina G. Levine wrote in a Physics Today article, “your gut…always wants what’s best for you. So whether your gut gently moans, happily or sadly cries, or howls in excruciating pain, listen to it. And when it pushes you to do something, act on it.”
Bonus tip: Designate a second-in-command from among your church leadership team to train with you and act as an understudy in emergency situations. By having a second pair of eyes and ears, you increase your chances of catching an emergency before it becomes a disaster.
3. Call for help
Don’t be a hero
You’re a church leader. You deliver sermons, organize small groups, and deploy volunteers. You don’t predict the weather, make arrests, or put out actual fires. There are professionals in every community trained for these situations, and the sooner you get them involved, the better.
Don’t wait for the situation to improve. As soon as you’ve determined that your church is in imminent danger, call 9-1-1 and explain what is happening in as much detail as possible. If you wait for your situation to become a “real” emergency, you’ll waste crucial time that you can’t recover later.
According to 911.org, “If you are ever in doubt of whether a situation is an emergency you should call 9-1-1. It’s better to be safe and let the 9-1-1 call taker determine if you need emergency assistance.”
