HURRICANE SEASON: BE PREPARED
If your congregation property is damaged – remember to assess, document, and report them to your insurance company as soon as possible.
Step 1: Protect property
- Invest in and install shutters or plywood in order to protect windows and doors from wind borne-debris.
- Have the roof of your building evaluated to ensure it can withstand a storm.
- Remove any branches or trees adjacent to your building that could potentially fall and damage it.
- Sandbag any area that is subject to flooding.
- Anchor and brace any large furniture (bookcases, shelves, filing cabinets) to wall studs.
- Relocate any valuable or fragile possessions.
- Secure all utilities including water heaters, gas tanks, and heaters and if necessary, raise them to higher locations to avoid water damages.
- Secure electronics such as computers and other office equipment with straps or Velcro.; unplug if possible.
Step 2: Protect important documents and information
- Designate important contacts to save that are crucial to church operations, such as employees, banks, lawyers, accountants, suppliers, insurance agent etc.
- Review all member information and update as needed.
- Review current disaster plan and update as needed.
- Back-up documents that are not easily produced such as insurance documents, legal contracts, tax returns, and accounting statements to avoid water damage.
- Seal these documents in waterproof containers onsite.
- Save all your designated contacts and documents in an alternate, accessible off-site location.
For a comprehensive congregation disaster plan and guide, click HERE.
For the 2018 Synod Disaster Response Plan and other Hurricane Season resources, click HERE.
