Planning for Emergencies

1. Planning for Emergencies How to prepare forworst-case scenarios

2. Agenda • What could POSSIBLY happen? • Expecting the unexpected • Building a plan • Insurance can help • Available resources

3. What could possibly happen?

4. 1st Baptist Church Gulfport, MS • August 29, 2005 • Hurricane Katrina • Buildings destroyed • Church vehicles destroyed • Ministry stopped

5. East Texas Church Arson

6. Expect the Unexpected • Churches must prepare for emergencies, disasters, epidemics • It is during these times your community turns to the church • A unique opportunity to minister to those in need

7. Building a Plan “Research indicates that immediately following a disaster, the next 24 hours is what defines your response…and sometimes your future.” Dick Baggett, SPHR, NACBA Ledger Spring ‘04, p. 10

9. Building a Plan Form Emergency Response Team • Church Administrator • Civil Servants (fire, police, EMT) • Insurance professional • Representatives of major ministry areas within your church

10. Building a Plan Create Emergency Response Plan • Facilities • Church Violence • Crisis Response • Ministry Continuity • Pandemics

11. Emergency Response Plan A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished. Proverbs 22:3 • Perform a Risk Assessment • Develop a recovery strategy including duties and responsibilities • Document your plan • Train personnel • Maintain the plan • Regular testing and/or drills

12. Church Violence Churches of all sizes experience acts of violence • Majority carried out by people who have a connection to the congregation • Be prepared • Develop a Church Security Plan & Guidelines

13. Pandemics • H1N1 served as a wake up call • What is a Pandemic? • Occur an average of 3 times each century

14. Ministry Continuity • Information Technology • Ministry Contingency Plan includes: • Ministry and church business resumption • Emergency Operating Procedures • Information systems’ data processing recovery

15. Ministry Continuity • Data Recovery Plans • What data services, at a minimum, would be required? • Membership database • E-mail • Web services • Voice systems

16. Facilities • What constitutes a risk at your facility? • Facilities Emergency Procedures Outline: • Phone numbers for police, fire, utilities, service contractors • Building schematics • First aid • Logistical information • Evacuation plan • Counseling • Ministry

17. How can insurance help? • Property Coverage--replacement cost • Liability Coverage—covers the church for negligence • Business Income & Extra Expense

18. Business Income Coverage Pays for loss of “business income” sustained due to “suspension of operations”. • Caused by a direct physical loss of or damage to property • Loss or damage directly caused by a “covered cause of loss” • Must satisfy waiting period • Subject to policy limit • Coverage for loss of use due to civil authority

19. Extra Expense Coverage • Pays for actual and necessary “extra expense” incurred due to direct physical loss/damage to property • Loss or damage directly caused by a “covered cause of loss” • Provides coverage for loss of use due to civil authority

20. How much is enough? • Average weekly tithes and offerings • Determine amount required by possible number of weeks • Look at average rents for facilities in area for extra expense coverage

21. Resources Take advantage of resources available: • www.churchadminpro.cominformation on developing manuals and plans for your church • www.uprightministries.com information on developing your own Emergency Response Plan • www.churchsecuritynetwork.org

22. Resources For Property/Casualty Risk Management tools designed especially for your church: www.GuideStonePropertyCasualty.org