Your church needs an emergency plan for tornado season

This is the beginning of tornado season; not even churches are immune from the wrath of nature's destructive storm systems. Now is a good time to establish a plan for your church in the event of one of nature's nasty surprises.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), South Indiana is at high risk for tornadoes.

Remember, a tornado destroyed Baker's Chapel United Methodist Church in Newburg, Ind. on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005. Fortunately, the tornado hit in the early hours of the morning with no one in the building.

Doug Buck, a retired Indiana State Police captain, vividly remembers Palm Sunday 1961 when a deadly herd of tornadoes raged across northern Indiana, killing 137 and injuring more than 1,700 people. He'd been driving in the Russiaville area in the Kokomo District when he saw one of the funnel clouds lift a nearby two-story house from its foundation. He raced to the site to find a terrified family who had taken shelter in the basement below the house just moments before it was torn away.

"The incident made a believer of me," said Buck. That in mind, he formulated an emergency plan for his church, Union Chapel UMC, Indianapolis. Recently he updated and re-solicited Together in urging other churches to develop plans for moving people to safety in an emergency and to make sure the plans are understood by those using the church.

"The best place to take shelter is in the basement, preferably in a hallway or small rooms," he told Together. "Any roof span of 20 feet or more is too large."

Safety suggestions

Make sure all doorways and stairways are kept clear at all times.
Don't open or close windows; just move directly and immediately to the basement hallway or place of shelter. If there is not basement, utilize hallways or small interior rooms. Do not leave the building to go to your car.
Watch children closely. Hugs are important in frightening situations.
Assist those who need help on the stairs. Chairs need to be made available for those who need them.
Be mindful of the dangers of flying debris and glass. Stay clear of windows.
Be prepared for a loss of electricity. Have flashlights readily available.
After evacuating the sanctuary, the pastor should consider continuing the worship service, providing quiet assurance in the midst of the stress of the moment; or someone could lead hymn singing until the danger has passed.
Have a weather-watch radio available. This is especially important for country churches out of earshot of community warning sirens. Battery operated weather radios are available at Radio Shack, Home Depot, K-Mart, Target and other electronics retailers and sell from below $20 to $100. Most have weather alerts.
Post a map of Indiana on the wall near the weather-watch radio to be able to track a storm knowing when it might hit the church.
Conduct a drill once a year at the beginning of tornado season to evaluate your plan.
Use line telephones only if in emergency. Use cell phones if at all possible.
Evacuation plans are important for congregations on any size.

For more information about emergency planning, log on to www.fema.gov/areyouready/ for FEMA's Are you ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness, a free 204-page guide that is downloadable by sections.

Last updated on 25 Apr 2008

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