1. A guide to protecting the people in your
ministry before, during, and after an emergency
CHURCH EMERGENCY
RESPONSE
FEBRUARY
RESOURCE OF THE MONTH
NCLL

2. INTRODUCTION
Being a pastor and running a church is not a Sunday-only operation. Regardless of the
size of the church property and the number of people who come and go on Sunday and
throughout the week, many issues must be considered to operate a safe and secure
ministry. Threats of severe weather, natural disaster, theft, medical emergency, power
failure, building hazards, and, increasingly, acts of violence are all possible emergency
scenarios for which every church should be prepared.
The one common denominator in the vast
majority of emergencies is that they are not
fully anticipated. Even the most seasoned law
enforcement officer still finds that his blood
pressure and heart rate go up when faced with
a life and death situation. Of course, not every
emergency is a matter of life and death, but all
emergencies have the potential for long-term
negative effects on your ministry and your
ability to effectively serve your community if
they are not appropriately handled. From an
elderly member experiencing a heart attack
during a service, to a bus accident, an act of
terror, an armed attack, a gas leak, or a bomb
threat, to a broken arm on the playground, a
sexual assault allegation, or a tornado threat,
the potential scenarios are enough to make
any ministry concerned. And while identifying
the most likely types of events that will
precipitate an emergency is relatively simple,
responding appropriately and calmly to them
is best accomplished through proper plan-
ning. A well-executed emergency response
plan can vastly minimize the short- and long-
term negative impact on your ministry and
your people and will develop confidence and
trust in your church’s leadership among those
within the ministry and community.
Developing a comprehensive emergency
response plan with the input of those within
and outside the church who have experience
in safety and security issues, as well as those
within the church who would be responsible
for carrying out the plans, is crucial to pro-
tecting church attendees and church prop-
erty before, during, and after a crisis and for
protecting the church from liability.
The NCLL has developed this resource to assist your ministry in identifying the most likely safety and/or security
threats you might face. While every ministry’s emergency response plan will look different from others simply
because every church has its own unique set of conditions to consider, we trust that this resource will provide a
good starting point from which you can begin to craft appropriate emergency response plans.
ncll.org 2

3. SECURITY
BREACH AND/
OR ARMED
THREAT
FIRE/SMOKE/
BUILDING
HAZARD/BOMB
THREAT
SEVERE
WEATHER
ACCIDENT/
INJURY/HEALTH
CRISIS
Developing and implementing an emergency response plan that includes each of these categories is critical for minimizing
the risk to people and property that will naturally arise during these types of events. Keep in mind the following general
considerations and three-step plan of action when developing your ministry’s emergency response plans.
Most emergency situations a church might face fall into one of the following categories:
THE SOURCE OF POTENTIAL
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DEVELOPING EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS:
01.
Local law enforcement agencies
can serve as invaluable resources for
your church. Churches should coordinate
with local law enforcement and their local
fire department, including providing them with
layouts of your church so that they may better re-
spond in the event of an emergency. They are also
often able to provide training sessions for church
safety team members, and many departments
are willing to review your ministry’s emergen-
cy response plans with you to ensure they
are “up to code” and will be efficient and
effective methods of responding to
emergencies.
02.
Consider hiring a
consultant who develops
responses to emergency
situations. Check for referrals
from local law enforcement,
other churches, or schools
in the area.
03.
Remember there is a
difference between how
emergency situations should
be handled on a weekday and
how they should be handled
during a church service.
Make plans accordingly.
04.
Be sure that all plans,
procedures, and protocols
take into consideration
and align with all local
and state laws and
regulations.
ncll.org 3

4. 3-STEP PLAN OF ACTION
STEP 1: EVALUATE CHURCH’S RISK LEVELS
When considering how to prepare for emergencies, each church should first evaluate its risk levels for each likely
type of emergency, because no church, regardless of size and/or location, is completely immune from violence,
severe weather, armed attacks, or medical emergencies. In evaluating your risk levels, take into consideration:
If the church, its pastor, or any
members or visitors are considered
“high profile”
Likely presence of armed
members and/or formal security
Established safety protocols
and knowledge by church
attendees of protocols
The ease of accessibility
onto church property and
especially into church buildings
during and prior to services
and at other times
The location of the church, its
proximity to high crime areas,
and past criminal activity on or
near church property
Likelihood of severe weather
in the area where the church is
located—particularly tornadoes
The age, condition, and uses
of the property, especially if
the buildings are older, house
older heating equipment, or if
the church has a kitchen where
heating sources are used
The presence of members
or visitors with known severe
health conditions and the level
of medically trained individuals
at the church
ncll.org 4

5. ncll.org 5
STEP 2: FORM A SAFETY TEAM
Designate particular individuals in your congregation who will be your “go-to” people if and when an
emergency arises. Background checks should be conducted on all potential members of the safety team.
Take into consideration the various occupations and experience of those within your congregation when
choosing who should be on this team.
1 2 3First responders:
persons trained in handling
medical emergencies, including
doctors, nurses, EMTs, paramed-
ics, firefighters, and/or police
officers. If there are no medically
trained personnel within the
church, the church should ensure
that, at a minimum, designated
staff members are trained in CPR
and the use of epinephrine and
that there are designated
persons to call 911 in the event
of emergencies.
Those familiar with
church layout:
persons who can be trained on or
who already are very familiar with
the entire church property, includ-
ing but not limited to all points of
access, maps of infrastructure,
escape routes, locations of
landline telephones and fire
alarms, as well as the evacuation
procedures for specified emer-
gencies. Consideration should
be taken to choose persons who
are physically fit and able to run/
respond quickly should the need
arise.
Representatives of
each of the ministries
operating during
services:
those volunteers or paid
staff who will be responsible for
implementing emergency safety
responses in each of the major
ministries (children, adult,
special needs, nursery,
transportation, etc.).
Police officers and/or
licensed security guards2
:
in a number of states, churches
many not purport to offer “secu-
rity” services (armed or unarmed)
unless such services are provided
by active or retired law enforcement
officers acting in their jurisdiction
or state-licensed security guards.
Given this, the NCLL recommends
that churches consult with their
local law enforcement agency to
determine the agency’s position on
allowing those with weapon carry
permits (open or concealed) to hold
a place on the church safety team.
In many states, weapons are entire-
ly forbidden in places of worship by
anyone other than law enforcement,
so non-law enforcement members
would be forbidden from carrying.
4
1

6. ncll.org 6
STEP 3: DEVELOP SAFETY PROTOCOLS/
EMERGENCY RESPONSE POLICIES
Designate particular individuals in your congregation
who will be your “go-to” people if and when an
emergency arises. Background checks should be
conducted on all potential members of the safety
team. Take into consideration the various occupations
and experience of those within your congregation
when choosing who should be on this team.
SECURITY BREACH AND/OR
ARMED THREAT
(1) DEVELOP PROTOCOLS/POLICIES FOR THE FOLLOWING:
Response to suspicious,
disruptive, or dangerous
persons on the property.
Generally, churches are
not considered places of public
accommodation (unlike restaurants
and grocery stores, which are) and
may deny access to anyone, including
disruptive members, with or without an
explanation and may require anyone to
leave after giving a warning to leave.
Trespass laws control this area of
church access.
Use of restraint/force/
armed security3
.
In developing this part of your policy,
be sure to emphasize that the use of
force is only authorized to the extent
allowed by applicable state law.
Lock-down procedures
for each area of the church in the
event of a security breach, focusing
especially on children’s areas,
including who may authorize and
how to authorize. Include, at a
minimum, protocols for armed
intruders and missing/lost children.
The chain of command
for each physical area and/or each
ministry area of the church in the event
of a security breach.
Evacuation protocols
including designated routes, who may authorize, how to authorize, who reports when areas have been cleared, and to whom reports are given.
Retrieval of children in the event of an evacuation
in a manner that allows workers to account for all children’s safety and whereabouts.
Educating workers on the protocols and plans
including who will be responsible for developing and conducting training sessions.
Building lock-up procedures
including when interior/exterior doors/windows should be locked and when alarms should be set and by whom.

7. ncll.org 7
(2) SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS:
Take seriously and report any threats to law enforcement that have been made to or
against the church or individual members.
Limit building access by only allowing main doors to be used for entry during services, activities, and
during the week, and keep all other doors locked from the inside during and prior to services so no one is able to
enter from the outside.
Post safety team
or other designated persons at the doors of all entrances and around the property. This
will not only give visitors a person to direct them to classes and particular ministries, but it will also allow workers to
identify persons who seem out of place, who seem particularly agitated, or whose motive for being on the property
may be called into question.
Keep in the church office a list and pictures of sexual offenders who live in an area proximate to the
church and any who regularly attend the church, and be sure safety team members and door greeters
are aware of who they are and a method of communicating their attendance at the church at any given time,
particularly during services/activities.
Schedule safety patrols of the church property prior to and during services, including all occupied
buildings, the parking lot, and any outdoor areas that are in use during service times.
Designate a code word for security breaches that, if communicated from the pulpit, loudspeaker,
or by other communications methods, alerts members of the security team or other designated per-
sons that an active security breach is underway.
Post emergency contact information in visible and high-traffic areas.
Maintain a contact list of emergency medical personnel within the church who are willing
to assist in emergency situations.
Designate persons to call 911 and to contact emergency medical personnel within the
church when necessary.
Verify that the church has adequate nighttime and outdoor lighting and quickly
repair/replace those that are not working properly.
Ensure that all locks are in working order and that areas such as nurseries,
church offices, and Sunday school rooms remain secure at all times.
Educate all workers on the protocols and have them
regularly practice
drills (fire, severe weather, lock-down, etc.). Remember that in some minis-
tries—particularly in nursery and children’s classes—workers tend to rotate
through more frequently than in other ministries, so be sure to provide each
rotation of workers the opportunity to practice the drills.
Document any unusual incidents or security breaches as soon after
the incident as is practical, and provide to the police if and when
requested or necessary.
Discourage persons from
remaining in their vehicles during
services so that their motivation for being on the property but not
attending services is not called into question.
Prior to locking up buildings, designate a person(s) to
check all rooms, bathrooms, and auditorium
pews to
ensure no one has been left in the building.
Keep a security log where all incidents of a security-
related nature should be written, including medical
events, people who are approached in the parking lot,
people who come to the church asking for money,
times when the doors are locked, and when the alarm
is set.
SECURITY BREACH AND/OR
ARMED THREAT

8. (1) DEVELOP PROTOCOLS/POLICIES FOR THE FOLLOWING:
ncll.org 8
Procedure for ensuring compliance with local fire codes: be sure church staff and
the safety team are knowledgeable of regulations and that they are carefully followed.
Set a schedule to regularly check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, alarms,
flashing lights, and postings of evacuation routes/maps.
Investigation of fire/smoke/hazard: what workers/attendees should do in the
event they see or smell smoke, smell gas, or hear an explosion and when to use fire
extinguishers, when to call 911, etc.
Communication before, during, and after evacuations: include who determines
when an evacuation should be initiated and how it is communicated (whether through
a public address system, warning system, walkie-talkies, through the use of code
words, etc.). The policy should include a chain of command for each ministry area of
the church, how to communicate the “all clear” or further actions after the evacuation is
complete, and who will contact emergency services, the fire department, the media, or
other necessary emergency responders.
Evacuation protocols: include designated routes, who may authorize, how to
authorize, who reports when areas have been cleared, and to whom reports are
given, as well as what, if any, systems should be shut down in the event of an
evacuation and who will be responsible for doing so.
Retrieval of children in the event of an evacuation: in a manner that allows workers
to account for all children’s safety and whereabouts.
Educating workers on the protocols and plans: include who will be responsible for
developing and conducting training sessions.
Bomb threat/suspicious package procedure: check with local law enforcement
about specific procedures for handling bomb threats and the handling/retrieval of
suspicious packages.
EVACUATION DUE TO FIRE/SMOKE/
HAZARD/BOMB THREAT

9. ncll.org 9
Post emergency contact information
in visible and high-traffic areas and
designate persons to call 911 and medical
emergency personnel at the church in the
event it becomes necessary.
Check evacuation routes prior to
evacuating where/when possible
to reduce the possibility of a planned
attack by someone using the fire alarm
as a means of evacuating and placing
attendees in vulnerable positions.
Regularly practice fire drills and
evacuations, particularly in chil-
dren’s areas but also for the main
auditorium and in adult classroom
areas. Be sure to require all work-
ers to account for all children and
youth and to immediately report
anyone who is missing.
Schedule safety patrols of the church
property prior to and during services,
including all occupied buildings, the parking
lot and any outdoor areas that are in use
during service times, looking for unusu-
al packages, out-of-place ceiling tiles, or
areas that smell of gasoline, smoke, or other
out-of-place smells. Particularly in larger
ministries, persons patrolling should carry
maps of all occupied rooms in order to en-
sure all rooms are empty in the event of an
evacuation.
Educate all workers on the protocols, and have them
regularly practice evacuation drills. Remember that in some ministries—
particularly in nursery and children’s classes—workers tend to rotate through
more frequently than in other ministries, so be sure to provide each rotation
of workers the opportunity to practice the drills.
Do not allow anyone back
in the buildings until the “all
clear” is given by authorized
individuals. Be sure workers
know who is authorized to give
the “all clear” and the procedure
for communicating this
information.
Pay special attention to ministries in the
church that may need extra assistance
in the event of an evacuation or the need
to seek shelter. This will particularly affect
classes where young children, deaf, and
other special needs, as well as elderly
persons are located.
(2) SPECIFIC
RECOMMENDATIONS:
EVACUATION DUE TO FIRE/SMOKE/HAZARD/BOMB THREAT

10. SEVERE WEATHER
(1) DEVELOP PROTOCOLS/POLICIES FOR THE FOLLOWING:
(2) SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS:
Post emergency contact information in visible and high-traffic areas, and designate persons to call
911 and medical emergency personnel at the church in the event it becomes necessary.
Procedure for determining when services are cancelled and when church and/or school and other
ministry buildings will be closed—designate particular individuals who will be responsible for checking
road and/or weather conditions and making recommendations to the pastor and/or elders on whether to
cancel activities.
Communication of cancelled Sunday/midweek services and other church-sponsored activities—
determine the most efficient means of communicating to church attendees when services and other
activities have been cancelled. This might include posting to various social media networks and sending
out group emails, texts, and/or phone messages.
Evacuation protocols—include designated routes, who may authorize, how to authorize, who reports
when areas have been cleared, and to whom reports are given, as well as what, if any, systems should be
shut down in the event of an evacuation and who will be responsible for doing so.
Retrieval of children in the event of evacuation—conduct in a manner that allows workers to account
for all children’s safety and whereabouts.
Educating workers on the protocols and plans—include who will be responsible for developing and
conducting training sessions.
Cancel services ahead of time in the event of severe weather warnings, particularly for potential tornado, flooding, ice, hail, and hurricane events.
Communicate to church attendees, employees, students, etc., when services and/or other activities have been cancelled.
Educate workers on protocols/plans and practice severe weather plans, including tornado drills, particularly if the church is located in an
area prone to tornadic activity. This should include the protocol for communicating when evacuations/drills have been completed and when/if it
is safe to return to classrooms. Remember that in some ministries—particularly in nursery and children’s classes—workers tend to rotate through
more frequently than in other ministries, so be sure to provide each rotation of workers the opportunity to practice the drills.
Instruct parents of children in children’s ministries the means of communicating with and/or retrieving their children in the event of severe
weather drills, warnings, or actual events.
Pay special attention to ministries in the church that may need extra assistance in the event of an evacuation or the need to seek shelter.
This will particularly affect classes where young children, deaf,and other special needs, and elderly persons are located.
ncll.org 10

11. ACCIDENT/INJURY/HEALTH CRISIS
(2) SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS:
Response
to emergency
health events (heart
attack, stroke, etc.)
that occur during a
main service
Response
to accidents/
injuries that occur
on church property,
such as slip and
falls
Response
to spilled bodily
fluids (blood, vomit,
feces, urine, saliva)
(1) DEVELOP
PROTOCOLS/
POLICIES FOR
THE FOLLOWING:
The means of
communicating with
and between medical
personnel at the church
who are able to respond to
a health concern/crisis/
accident/injury
Educating
workers on the
protocols and plans,
including who will be
responsible for developing
and conducting staff and
worker training
sessions
First Aid/CPR Training—require leaders
in each ministry, particularly in children’s
ministries, to undergo regular CPR/First Aid
training, including the administration of epi-
nephrine (Epi-Pens).
Keep up-to-date first aid kits in prominent
areas, restocking as need be.
Educate leaders on special health condi-
tions of children in their care, particularly
asthma and allergies (especially food, latex,
and insect bite), as these can quickly be-
come life-threatening emergencies in many
children. Ensure that workers know which
children in their care have such conditions.
Breathing problems and swelling of tongue or
face should always be treated as emergency
situations.
Require all workers to wear disposable
gloves when dealing with bodily fluids,
including when changing diapers.
Designate a person(s) to call 911 and con-
tact medical personnel on the property in
the event of a known or possible severe health
crisis (heart event, stroke, unconsciousness, or
ingestion of allergic substance).
Keep an AED (Automated External De-
fibrillator) available for emergency use if
and when/where possible.
Document any health crises, medical care
provided, and accidents or injuries on a
specified form, including the time and details
of the incident along with who responded and
what responses were taken.
Notify your insurance company of any
accidents or injuries either occurring on
the property or at off-campus activities or
in church-sponsored or church-provided
transportation as soon as possible after the
accident/injury.
Notify parents of an injured or sick child as
quickly as possible.
Require permission slips with emergency
care and liability release for any off-campus
or particularly dangerous events and events
where the church is providing transportation.
ncll.org 11

12. FOOTNOTES
1
In an increasing number of states and localities, anyone who provides security services
for a church or business becomes subject to the laws and regulations governing the pri-
vate security industry. In some areas, this is the case regardless of whether they are paid
or volunteer, or whether or not those providing security are armed. For this reason, the
NCLL no longer recommends that churches establish “security teams” who are primarily
tasked with protecting church attendees. Rather, we now recommend that each church
develop a “safety” or a “first response” team (avoiding use of the term “security”) and
define the scope of the team’s responsibilities as being that of ensuring safety rather
providing security.
2
Many churches have requested guidance from the NCLL on allowing firearms in the
church. As the law varies greatly among each state, we recommend that churches con-
tact us directly about this issue. In many states, persons who hold valid weapon carry
permits (whether for concealed carry, open carry, or both) are permitted to carry fire-
arms or other weapons into church buildings, although in some cases, they may not be
on an official “security team” if they are not licensed to provide security. In most states
where it is legal to carry concealed or open into church or on church property, the pastor
or church has the legal right to prohibit firearms and concealed weapons (but this is not
the case in every state). In other states, firearms and other weapons, whether carried
openly or concealed, are completely forbidden on any church property unless carried by
police officers or licensed security guards authorized to carry weapons.
3
If the church opts to offer armed security, be sure to abide by all applicable laws and
regulations. With all policies providing for armed security, the following scenarios must
be taken into consideration: (1) potential of lawsuit filed against the church, church
leadership, and armed security members; (2) potential for open fire in the sanctuary; (3)
potential for loss of life—even innocent life; (4) potential for negative effect on church
membership.
ncll.org 12