Disasters and Faith-Based Organizations

Chertoff, Johnson Lead New Task Force to Toughen Security in Religious Communities

Former DHS Secretaries Michael Chertoff and Jeh Johnson will co-chair a new Community Safety and Security Task Force convened by ADL (the Anti-Defamation League), a leading anti-hate organization, and the Secure Community Network (SCN), the homeland security and safety initiative of The Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. The task force will work to enhance the safety, security and resiliency of religious communities.

Here is one example of efforts to ensure security at houses of worship from the Boston area CJP organization.

After High-Profile Attacks, Houses Of Worship Struggle With Security.

It is understandable that houses of worship need to improve security but some aspects of this new concern are worrisome.

Protecting Soft Targets

From the Associated Press: A look at attacks on houses of worship over last decade.

FEMA’s Grant Programs Directorate in partnership with DHS’s Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives and FEMA’s Individual and Community Preparedness Division, on Thursday, March 21, 2019 from 2-3 p.m. ET. Learn about the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and how to prepare for the application period.

FEMA will release the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) no later than April 16, 2019 which opens the application period. Under the FY 2019 NSGP FEMA will award $60 million in security related funding to nonprofit organizations.

Get a head start on the application by reviewing the FY 2018 NSGP NOFO and the FY 2018 NSGP Investment Justification (IJ) and preparing your answers. The IJ is available on grants.gov. Title: Protecting Your Organization: Fiscal Year 2019 Nonprofit Security Grant Program, and other Resources to Help Keep Your Facility Safe.

Date: Thursday, March 21, 2019; Time: 2:00- 3:00p.m. (ET)
How to Join the Webinar: register for the event using the Adobe Connect registration web link. Be sure to test your Adobe Connect connection prior to the meeting. For more information, please contact fema-gpd-pdsb@fema.dhs.gov

In this story of the recent tornado in AL is mention of a church specifically constructed to be a shelter for a vulnerable community.  Definitely a model worth copying.
See: Deadly AL Tornado Exposes Shortfalls of Community Safety Efforts.

Texas, who gets to use your money to rebuild after a natural disaster? Like many have learned after Harvey, FEMA regulations can be complex — including those for houses of worship seeking public grants to rebuild

Prepare and Respond faith-based group is ready for natural disasters

From the DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate, Office of Infrastructure Protection. Security of Soft Targets and Crowded Places–Resource Guide (20 pp)