A webinar on how to keep your congregation safe in face of varied natural and unnatural disasters

1. MidAmerica Webinar
Rev. Dr. Lisa Presley
District Executive, Heartland

2. Chalice Lighting


3. Safety: Why?

 People come to us for a variety of reasons
 Yet underlying it all is an expectation that we will
provide communities where their safety is foremost
in our mind
 Safety first. Three areas of focus:
 People
 Places
 Things
 Two modifiers: Natural and Human Created

4. Matrix View

 For any event, ask what are the impacts on
people, places, and things, both initially and as a
result
 Examples:
 A storm: A tree falls on the building, creating a hole in
the roof, and people rushing to help fall because the
floors get slippery, and the leaks destroy the computer
system with all the congregation‘s information inside
 Medical issue for a member may traumatize
members, and there may be no indication of
family/friends who have power to act

5. Best Thing: Be Prepared!

 Create policies and procedures that reflect all three
levels
 Share information with renters
 Resources:
 UUA Website, District/Regional Staff
 Church Mutual Insurance Company
 Local Community Policing Officers
 Federal Government: www.ready.gov
 Local resources in disaster preparedness
 Your own insurance company

6. People: Medical

 Train key leaders in first aid annually
 Obtain AED and train people annually
 Maintain a full first aid kit, with signs as to location
 Include diabetes glucose tablets, etc.
 Post congregation‗s address in prominent location
 Have phone available for 911 calls
 Compile list of medical personnel in congregation
 Brief leaders on location of first aid materials
 Maintain Emergency Contact Files

7. People: Safety Guidelines

 Child and vulnerable adults
 Policies and procedures for Safe Congregations
 Sexual offenders
 Don‘t presume it doesn‘t happen in your congregation
 Policies and procedures: never alone, designated
companions
 Ask for disclosure—to minister or others
 Safeguard member/friend contact information
 Travel guidelines:
 Guidelines for drivers for trips, chaperones, etc.

8. People: Stranger Danger

 Biggest fear, but relatively rare
 Awareness and preparedness first
 No one working with children until more than 6
months at congregation
 Safeguard member/friend contact information
 Create a response plan
 Train greeters, ushers, teachers, staff
 Point people on duty each week
 Be curious about who come in, but not paranoid

9. People: Hazard Prevention

 Property accessible and safe
 Prepare for weather: snow, ice, flooding
 Playground equipment follows safety guidelines
 Proper lighting for night-time security
 Buddy system when leaving building after dark
 System for repairs and maintenance known by
all, including renters, to increase safety
 Maintain sufficient insurance coverage to protect
congregation

10. People: Disaster Response

 Evacuation and Sheltering In plans
 Design evacuation route
 Two gathering locations, in case first unsafe
 Designate people to help with RE and disabled
 Drills at least once a year
 Post maps in every room/location
 Determine sheltering in locations
 Safest places in congregation
 Drills at least once a year
 Post maps in every room/location

11. Places
 Building Safety:

 Look for obvious nuisances – inside and outside
 Pay attention to potential copper theft
 Fire alarm and/or phone with address and emergency
numbers listed
 Sprinkler system in kitchen
 Fire extinguishers throughout and annual check
 If fireplaces, monitor use
 Playground safety and cushioning material
 Lighting
 Address well posted on outside of building

12. Places

 Evacuation and Sheltering In
 Create routes and maps, and post
 Evacuation and sheltering in drills at least annually
 For sheltering in, obtain supplies and check annually
for expiry
 Partner with your local disaster recovery agency

13. Things

 Data Safety
 Offsite Backups
 ―Cloud‖ storage
 Equipment
 Maintain Inventory with full details, offsite
 Archives
 Offsite Backups
 ―Cloud‖ storage, not member attics/basements
 Bottom Line: Redundancy!

14. Role in Community

 One thing to ask: what role do you wish to play
 Are you a congregation that wants to help members
and neighbors:
 Do you wish to be a community shelter in
emergencies?
 Will you train members/neighbors on preparedness?
 Can you support workshops on wills and estate
matters for families?
 Will you keep up your commitments to disaster
preparedness?

15. Final Words

 Be Prepared—it can happen here, and does
 Create and review your policies
 Back up everything
 Train your people: first aid, AED, dangers, drills
 Redundant systems, offsite, automatic – now readily
and easily available
 Take care of yourselves!

16. Resources

 UUA Website (www.uua.org)
 District/Regional Staff
 Church Mutual Insurance Company
(http://www.churchmutual.com/index.php/choice/r
isk/page/intro/id/21)
 Local Community Policing Officers
 Federal Government: www.ready.gov
 Local resources in disaster preparedness (Google:
disaster preparedness churches)
 Your own insurance company