By Church Mutual Insurance
Extreme weather can strike at any time. To make sure you’re ready for whatever Mother Nature has in store this summer, follow this three-step action plan. It tells you how to protect your buildings, grounds, people and property from unnecessary risks.
STEP 1: WHAT TO DO BEFORE THE STORM
Perhaps the most important part of your plan is being prepared. What you do before a storm strikes is critical. Here’s what you should be doing before violent weather happens:
- Look at previous years’ weather patterns to get an idea of what to expect in the coming months
- Create an emergency plan for your organization
- Train personnel in basic medical procedures like CPR
- Prepare emergency kits
STEP 2: WHAT TO DO DURING THE STORM
When violent storms descend on your area, time becomes a critical factor. In just a matter of minutes, damaging wind, hail, lightning or rainwater can engulf your facility. In this situation, remain calm and follow these steps:
- Keep people safe and informed—your number-one priority in any emergency is to keep people safe. Start activating a “call tree” (you call two people, they call two people, etc.) to let members know where you are and what the status of your building is
- Safeguard your data and equipment by shutting down and unplugging electrical equipment
- Move your valuables and documents to a safe location
STEP 3: WHAT TO DO AFTER THE STORM
When the skies clear, the storm subsides and you’ve gotten all the emergency issues resolved, you will enter the “recovery” stage. It is critical that you and your team assess how well your safety action plan worked. Are there improvements you could make? Should you consult with industry experts and learn how to better prepare? Here are a few post-storm steps you’ll want to take that can help refine your process:
- Assess damage and evaluate safety procedures
- Communicate the status of your building and take inventory
- Follow up with Church Mutual—after any emergency, know that the experts and professionals at Church Mutual are ready to help get your organization back up and running as quickly as possible. Contact your area representative to schedule an appointment
To learn more about how to prepare for a case of severe weather, view our Weather Preparedness Webinar or visit ChurchMutual.com/GoingStrong.
Church Mutual Insurance is the nation’s premier provider of insurance services and thought leadership for worship centers, schools, senior living communities, nonprofit & human service organizations and camps.
