All of these unexpected events can occur anywhere, including churches, and one should be prepared for them. Although a church has many obligations and interests, community safety should be a primary priority. This means having an emergency plan in place in case of an unexpected tragedy.

What Is a Church Emergency Plan?

A church emergency plan is a written document that answers the questions of who, what, when, where, and how your ministry will recover following an emergency or tragedy. Answering "what if" questions in any given scenario will help develop content for an emergency plan manual. 

For example, "What if a tornado hit the church?" "What if an armed intruder disrupted a church service?" and "What if the church flooded?" A representative team of your senior leadership, facilities management, information technology, and telephone systems is necessary when planning for an emergency or disaster. 

The team is responsible for evaluating potential scenarios and determining the best course of action for each one. The team will consolidate the material and organize it into a binder or electronic record to be used as a resource in the event of an emergency or catastrophe. An emergency plan manual can be as complex or simple as outlining some logistical first steps.

The more detailed the plan is, the less thinking will be required during an emergency when there is usually a lot of chaos and many challenges to address. Without a plan, churches may have a difficult time recovering from a sudden disaster.

Phases of Emergency Response

Disasters and emergencies typically have three phases, including first response, clean-up, and recovery. The best way to develop a church emergency plan is to map out a plan for each of the phases. 

1. First Response

The first response phase involves ensuring the safety and security of church premises as well as aiding possible victims. This can include anything from first aid to basic living essentials like shelter, food, and water. 

This phase also involves responding to media questions and having a prepared spokesperson to represent the organization.

2. Clean-Up Phase

Clearing debris, cleaning the facility, and preparing the building employees are all part of the clean-up phase. Having a clean-up plan is important to the normal return of church operation, depending on the nature of the disaster or emergency. 

If there is no significant damage to the facility, a cleaning may be all that is needed to return to normal operations. 

3. Recovery Phase

If the damage is severe, the third and final recovery phase involves rebuilding or repairing the facility to get it back in working order and ready for the public. Depending on the extent of the damage, the reconstruction phase could last days, weeks, or months. 

If the recovery will be prolonged, it is essential to find a temporary place for church services as well as a command center where a team can assist with the recovery process.

What Should an Emergency Plan Manual Include?

1. Action Steps: Identity the who, what, where, when, and how. 
2. Emergency Contact Information: Who needs to be contacted in the event of a disaster, in what order, and by whom? Include phone numbers of church employees, volunteers, or congregants. 
3. Building Layout: Have blueprints or building diagrams easily available and a location where emergency supplies can be stored.
4. Emergency Plan Box: If the church building cannot be occupied, an emergency preparedness box should be kept in a separate place with supplies to help get the church back up and operating.

Integrity Security in North Wilkesboro, NC

While emergencies and disasters are unpredictable, investing time and preparation ahead of time can help to reduce the chaos of an emergency and ensure a smooth response process. Installing a security system is another approach to protect your church. 

Preventing break-ins is essential to protecting your church, and Integrity Security wants to help by securing your facility. We help provide peace of mind for you and your congregation with a variety of security products. For more information, contact us today.