Written by CCIA Security Consultant Jeff Kearnan
The term ‘first responder’ brings several images to mind: police officers, firemen, paramedics, and other trained professionals. What most people don’t include in their imagery of a first responder is their coworker, their boss, their spouse, or the person worshipping next to them. Reality proves time and again that when a crisis of any type occurs, the true first responders are those who are at the scene when the incident strikes. Some of the most unsuspecting people who were forced to jump into first responder mode include those in houses of worship.
Houses of worship face other, more probable hardships, such as flooding, power outages, natural disasters, medical emergencies, theft, vandalism, trespassers, threats, and day-to-day incidents that any organization will have.
“If it is predictable, it is preventable;” while the old saying may not always ring true, houses of worship cannot deny the fact that they are often victims of crime, along with a myriad of other incidents. Having proper planning in place can help both house of worship leaders and those attending and volunteering when it matters most.
Here are only a few points proving the need for a carefully thought-out, all-encompassing emergency response plan:
- Safety of Congregants: The primary concern is the safety and well-being of the people who gather at the place of worship. Having an emergency response plan ensures that congregants and visitors are prepared for various types of emergencies, including natural disasters, medical emergencies, and security incidents.
- Risk Management: By identifying potential hazards and developing response plans, houses of worship can mitigate risks and minimize the impact of emergencies. This proactive approach can help prevent injuries, property damage, loss of life, and lawsuits.
- Community Support: Houses of worship often serve as focal points for communities, providing not only spiritual guidance but also support during times of crisis; effective emergency response plans in place enable these institutions to better serve their communities and aid those in need during emergencies.
- Legal and Regulatory Compliance: In many jurisdictions, there are legal requirements or guidelines mandating that public buildings, including houses of worship, have emergency preparedness plans. Compliance with these regulations helps ensure that the institution meets its legal obligations and avoids potential liabilities.
- Protection of Assets: Houses of worship may have valuable assets, including historical artifacts, religious texts, and infrastructure. Emergency response plans help safeguard these assets and ensure their preservation during emergencies such as fires, floods, or vandalism.
- Maintaining Continuity of Operations: Disruptions caused by emergencies can impact the ability of houses of worship to carry out their regular activities and services. Having contingency plans in place ensures that essential operations can continue, even in the face of adversity.
- Training and Awareness: Conducting training exercises and raising awareness about emergency preparedness among staff, volunteers, and congregants enhances overall readiness and response capabilities, empowering individuals to take appropriate actions during emergencies and fostering a culture of safety within the community.
- Recovery: Financial, Psychological and Reputational recovery is at stake; be the example of how to survive and win against an adversary (weather, human or technological) rather than be an example of how to fall as a victim.
Emergency Response Plans, procedures, and training are essential components of responsible stewardship for houses of worship. Plans help protect lives, property, and the continuity of operations, while also fulfilling a broader mission of serving and supporting the community during times of need.
Veteran-owned Kearnan Consulting Group, comprised of various experts and experienced professionals, has spent over 2 years developing a series of plans based on Best Practices, FEMA regulations, Code of Federal Regulation, National Industry Standards, NFPA, and regulatory authorities. The Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) will prepare and teach houses of worship to identify gaps, provide training, document incidents as well as have an overall sense of preparedness for all types of incidents. In tandem with the EOP are separate plans focused on specific user groups that, when combined with the EOP, create an overall plan of success.
The Emergency Operations Plan – The Policy, the “why we do things” plan developed specifically for executives, leadership, attorneys, and Insurance companies.
The Emergency Response Plan – The user friendly, distilled version of the EOP for employees to follow during an emergency.
The Reunification Plan – a guide to reunite children with parents and guardians.
The Procedural Manual for Members of the Safety & Security Team – The “How to do my job” guide, along with job descriptions for each volunteer position.
The Training Plan – The “How To” guide for planning, doing, and documenting training to be used to show due diligence during a claim or in court.
Opting for quality, essential plans is the logical decision for preparation, reducing risk, prioritizing safety, and countering threats. Such plans should be regarded as an investment rather than an overwhelming debt-causing expense. Compared to the value of protecting a congregation, defending a lawsuit, and protecting your reputation, the cost of these safety and security plans falls in line with attainable spending goals for all houses of worship, from mega to start-up.
What measures have you taken for the safety of your congregants?
Jeffrey C. Kearnan
Kearnan Consulting Group, LLC
Church Security Solutions | Emergency Planning Consultant CA
Jeffrey C. Kearnan (jeffkearnan.com)
About Jeff Kearnan
Jeff Kearnan is a retired Assistant Sheriff, former director of Emergency Services, former Assistant Deputy Director of the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center, former USAF noncommissioned officer, holds degrees in Homeland Defense and Security Studies and Criminal Justice Management. Mr. Kearnan is a security consultant for Church and Casualty Insurance Agency and owns a successful consulting firm that specializes in expert witness testimony in civil lawsuits involving negligence, premises liability, standard of care, and police practices and use of force cases. Mr. Kearnan is called upon to perform threat and vulnerability security risk assessments for houses of worship, corporations, and government infrastructures. Mr. Kearnan uses his training, education, and experience to help houses of worship stay safe by preparing and planning for predictable surprises in way of policy, procedure, training and response plan writing.
Resources
Learn more about Safety and Security Plans for your House of Worship
View the PlansFor more safety resources, visit our Safety Resource Center page.