Severe Weather Action Plan
Each year, the United States averages some 100,000 thunderstorms, 5,000 floods, 1,300 tornadoes and 2 Atlantic hurricanes, as well as widespread droughts and wildfires. Weather, water and climate events, cause an average of approximately 650 deaths and $15 billion in damage per year and are responsible for some 90 percent of all presidentially-declared disasters. With spring right around the corner now is a great time to create a severe weather action plan for your church.
Steps to create a Severe Weather Action Plan for your church.
Designate emergency coordinator[s] to support your plan.
- Empower the Security Team or coordinator to develop a response emergencies.
- Select a leader to monitor the weather and 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 severe weather.
- Designate the safest place in your facility for a severe thunderstorm or other emergency.
- 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 your severe weather action plan.
- Blankets
- Weather radios
- First-Aid Kit[s]
- Food and Water
- Mobile phones
- Flashlights
- Batteries
- Emergency Contact Numbers
Prepare your church property before severe weather.
- 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.
- Hire a professional electrician install a commercial surge protector and ensure all electrical circuits are 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 severe weather.
- 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.