Bonus tip: Have a hard-wired phone (or several) on-site. Landlines don’t rely on a cellular network to call for help, and they have their own dedicated power source through the wiring, making them vital in the event of an extended power outage.
4. Get to safety
The thumbs up means everything is fine
Safety could mean moving outside in the case of a fire, or to the church basement in the event of a tornado. The key is preparation and communicating your plan ahead of time so that if such a situation occurs, you and your congregation know where to go. Post maps prominently throughout your church, and ensure that exits and hallways are clearly marked.
There’s a reason we’ve all experienced fire drills, and you should have them at church, too. Remember: people first, stuff later. You can always rebuild your space and replace your things. You can’t replace a person.
RELATED: Best AED for Churches
In most cases, common sense will dictate what exactly getting to safety means. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s guide to Workplace Emergencies and Evacuations:
“Protecting the health and safety of everyone in the facility should be the first priority. In the event of a fire, an immediate evacuation to a predetermined area away from the facility is the best way to protect employees. On the other hand, evacuating employees may not be the best response to an emergency such as a toxic gas release at a facility across town from your business.”
Bonus tip: Stock your church basement with drinking water, canned food, and first aid supplies so that it can be used as a shelter in an extreme weather event. If you’re really serious about things, consult the 1967 Department of Defense guide on converting your basement into a full-on fallout shelter.
5. Put technology to work
You have technology, use it!
We live in an unprecedented age of technological advancement. The entire world is connected at all times, and everyone carries emergency response devices in their hands.
Tap into that network. Use the member directory in your church management system to keep an updated list of all members and establish a protocol under which information can be shared quickly and clearly.
Don’t forget to set up a child check-in system to ensure that the most vulnerable members of your congregation are safe and accounted for at all times. This system also allows you to quickly share information with registered parents/guardians in any emergency situation.
In the wake of a natural disaster, information can be as valuable as food, first aid, and fresh water.
As geologist Trevor Nace points out in Forbes, “Immediate information on the most damaged areas of a city or locations of where people remain stranded saves lives.”
Bonus tip: Some volunteer management systems include optional background checks. By screening volunteers ahead of time, you can prevent situations or emergencies that arise out of allowing untrustworthy individuals into positions of authority.
What’s your plan?
These five tips will help you outline a basic church emergency plan, but it’s important to remember that your plan will never be complete. The world is constantly changing, and you should always be learning and adapting. One great way to keep up on the latest in church technology and leadership is to follow our blog.
Do you already have a church emergency preparedness plan in place? Have you ever had to use it?
This article on church emergency preparedness originally appeared here.
