Prepare for Storm Season
The United States experiences over 100,000 thunderstorms each year. An average ten percent of these storms are classified as severe. Severe thunderstorms can form tornadoes. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), tornadoes cause an average of 70 fatalities and 1,500 injuries in the U.S. each year. Take step now to prepare your church for storm season. We’ve created a storm season checklist for your church.
Steps to Prepare your Church for Storm Season
Designate emergency coordinator[s] for your church.
- Empower the Security Team or coordinator to develop a response emergencies.
- Select a leader to monitor the weather who is ready to respond if a tornado warning is issued.
- Create a communication method to reach everyone in the facility with instructions.
Designate a safe place for a storm.
- Designate the safest place in your facility for a severe thunderstorm or other emergency.
- For a storm: the safest location in a building is the most interior room on the lowest floor. Ideally, it should be a sturdy interior room without windows that is below ground, if possible, or at ground level.
- Place signs, instructions and maps throughout the building with directions to the safe place.
- Practice safety drills regularly to test the effectiveness of these signs.
Secure critical items for storm season.
- Blankets
- Weather radios
- First-Aid Kit[s]
- Food and Water
- Mobile phones
- Flashlights
- Batteries
- Emergency Contact Numbers
Prepare your church property before storm season.
- Have dead branches and trees removed.
- Secure outside furniture and loose items or bring them inside.
- Keep gutters and drains clean.
- Have your roof inspected annually to ensure flashing and shingles are secure.
- Have a professional electrician install a commercial surge protector.
- All electrical circuits must be properly grounded.
- Know how to turn off gas and electric.
- Review your insurance policy to confirm that all buildings are listed.
Check your church property after a storm.
- Assess the damage, take photos if possible.
- Protect your property from further damage with tarps or wood.
- Contact people needed to secure the facility (building contractors, utilities companies, etc.).
- Contact your insurance company.