Disasters and Faith-Based Organizations

DHS ANNOUNCES GRANT ALLOCATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019 PREPAREDNESS GRANTS. Learn more about the DHS’s preparedness grant programs at www.dhs.gov and http://www.fema.gov/grants.

As part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) ongoing efforts to support state, local, tribal and territorial partners, Acting Secretary Kevin K. McAleenan today announced final allocations of $350 million for six Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 DHS competitive preparedness grant programs. These allocations together with the more than $1.3 billion in non-competitive grant funding announced by DHS in April, total more than $1.7 billion in FY 2019 granted to assist states, local areas, tribal and territorial governments, nonprofit agencies, and the private sector with their preparedness efforts.

From BizTech magazine, How Non-profit is Boosting Security for Houses of Worship. Note that this author is a fan of the newsletter provided by this organization.

Some Tip Sheets on Engaging Faith Communities in Disasters by Peter B. Gudaitis and Brie Loskota

For House of Worship Interfaith Collaboration Is the Future of Security.

When I was doing local research on this topic, I did see a few examples. One of the easiest to do is arrange for alternative space for worship if your building is damaged.

Run, hide, fight’ has become a mantra for how to act during a mass shooting. Here’s what it really involves

See this article on non-profit security grants.

Here is one explanation, from an article today in the Wash Post: Ancient hatreds, modern methods: How social media and political division feed attacks on sacred spaces.

Here is another from the NY Times: Synagogue Shooting Keeps Religious Leaders on Edge: ‘No One Should Be Gunned Down in Worship’

From DHS, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency: Security of Soft Targets and Crowded Places–Resource Guide, April 2019

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.