Webinar on
Congregational Safety
will begin soon!
MidAmerica Webinar
Rev. Dr. Lisa Presley
District Executive, Heartland
Central MidWest, Heartland and Prairie Star Districts
Welcome!


Welcome
Introductions
Technical Issues
MidAmerica Webinar
Rev. Dr. Lisa Presley
District Executive, Heartland
Chalice Lighting

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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
 Building Safety:

Places


 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
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
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!
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?
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!
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

Congregational Safety 2 2012-10-25

  • 1.
  • 2.
    MidAmerica Webinar Rev. Dr.Lisa Presley District Executive, Heartland
  • 3.
    Central MidWest, Heartlandand Prairie Star Districts
  • 4.
  • 6.
    MidAmerica Webinar Rev. Dr.Lisa Presley District Executive, Heartland
  • 7.
  • 8.
    Safety: Why?   Peoplecome 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
  • 9.
    Matrix View   Forany 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
  • 10.
    Best Thing: BePrepared!   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
  • 11.
    People: Medical   Trainkey 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
  • 12.
    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.
  • 13.
    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
  • 14.
    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
  • 15.
    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
  • 16.
     Building Safety: Places  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
  • 17.
    Places   Evacuation andSheltering 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
  • 18.
    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!
  • 19.
    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?
  • 20.
    Final Words   BePrepared—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!
  • 21.
    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

Editor's Notes

  • #5 Welcome to all; won’t go around at the moment; too many folks out there;I am DE of HL; lifelong UU; minister for 20 years; serving my 6thyear in HL as DE (two stints)With this many people – won’t be able to stop for comments, or have 70 people ask questions; so – post questions on the chat portion of SlideShare; can stay on for a bit of time after the “official call” or can email me with questions after the fact. Overwhelmed by the numbers; if get through the “prepared” material, will open it up to questions/conversations
  • #6 Recorded webinar – will end up archiving on web for future reference; can use whenever you want; on demand throughMidwestuuleadership.org
  • #8 Take Courage Friends: - Wayne Arnason
  • #14 Awareness: take into account email, mail and phone threats/disturbing items; notify local police—may know the person; think about having someone monitoring parkingShooting in Knoxville: story about the metal detectors – before or after the greeters tableAdd in the possibility of drifters/homeless connection with community police and having someone sitting in car (joan van b story)