Church Emergency Evacuation Shelter in Place and Lock Down Plan

History tells us and the daily headlines remind us that Christian churches are vulnerable to natural disasters, hate attacks, and man-made attacks. 

All should have an emergency operations plan, evacuation, shelter-in-place, and lock-down procedure. 

Here is a procedure we have created at my church, St. Michael the Archangel in Poplar Springs, MD. 

We have a large number of children and elderly who would have to be evacuated in an emergency, and after two years of planning and testing, the plan below works for us. 

Adapt it to your unique church setting.

Church Emergency Evacuation, Shelter-in-Place, and Lock-Down Procedure

At St. Michael’s, we take the safety and security of all St. Michael’s parishioners, and especially the children, very seriously.  Central to our Emergency Response Plan (ERP) is this Emergency Evacuation, Shelter-in-Place and Lock-Down Plan and instructions. Please learn and know these instructions as you may need to use them during an emergency.

1.    Say a quick prayer.

2.    Call 911.

3.    Remain calm as others will look to you for strength and guidance.

4.    Notify your Zone Leader and your church leaders with details of the emergency.

5.    Implement proper protocols such as those below.

6.    If following the shelter-in-place protocol, verify everyone has done so.

7.    If following evacuation protocols, continue with the steps below.

8.    Do NOT use elevators.

9.    Have the children sit down and remain silent.

10.  Locate and bring your attendance folder and emergency pack.

11.  Take attendance and verify all your assigned children are accounted for.

12.  Report any injuries to your Zone Leader.

13.  Communicate your accountability status to your Zone Leader.

14.  Be aware of and assist the physically handicapped, elderly, or those with special needs.

15.  Follow the evacuation maps posted in your room or the gathering areas.

16.  To exit, proceed to the nearest safe aisle or hallway and then to the evacuation areas.

17.  While evacuating, inform and evacuate other personnel who may be injured or unaware.

18.  Assemble outside in the predesignated areas (see Zone Maps on the wall).

19.  Once you exit, do NOT go back into the building.

20.  Take attendance again and verify everyone is accounted for.

21.  Communicate your attendance report to the Zone Leader.

22.  Follow all instructions from the fire department, police, and church leaders.

23.  Ensure in the proper reunification of parents and children.

24.  The Incident Leader will account for the status of each zone.

25.  Zone Leaders will update the Incident Leader after exiting the building.

26.  Zone Leaders will update the Incident Leader of the status of all classroom Team Leaders.

27.  Only reenter the building if and when the all-clear is given by the fire department.

Caution: To keep the roads and intersections clear for emergency vehicles, instruct everyone to NOT go to their cars.  Vehicles could cause a delay in those responding to the emergency. 

ERP Team Leaders Check List

1. Check off each task you complete and return this list to the Zone Leader.
2. Remain calm, others will look to you for strength and guidance
3. Bring your attendance folder.
4. Bring your Emergency Pack.
5. Ensure the proper protocols for conducting the Evacuation, Shelter-in-Place or Lock-Down are followed.
6. Ensure all areas of your class/area have been fully evacuated or have Sheltered-in-Place.
7. Ensure all children are accounted.
8. Once in the Evacuation or Shelter-in-Place area, have the children sit down, remain silent and take attendance.
9. Report your status to your Zone Leader, to include injuries and missing persons.
10. Ensure the proper reunification of children and parents.
11. Write down the name of each parent and child you reunite and give this list to the Zone Leader.

Shelter In Place Procedures

1.      Shelter in Place location: Library storage/copy room inside library.

2.      Turn off classroom lights.

3.      Take walkie-talkie, first aid kit (with emergency folder attached) and current daily attendance sheet.

4.      Line up children with one teacher in front and one teacher in back.

5.      IF all children are accounted for and in line, the front teacher calls “Ready” and the back teacher responds “Ready”.

6.      Lines move quickly and quietly to the shelter in place location.

7.      Front teacher immediately counts children as they enter the location.

8.      Back teacher confirms count.

9.      If there are any discrepancies, the front teacher uses cell phone to communicate discrepancy to the director or person in charge.

10.  Remain in shelter until further instructions are given by director or local authorities.

11.  When shelter in place is concluded, return to the classroom by using the same line-up method as outlined above.

12.  Front teacher immediately counts children as they return to the classroom.

13.  Back teacher confirms count.

14.  If there are any discrepancies, the front teacher uses cell phone to communicate discrepancy to the director or person in charge.

15.  All children should remain on the carpet until “All Clear” is called.

Evacuation Plan-On site

1.      On-site Evacuation Location: Old Church, across St. Michael's Rd.

2.      Turn off classroom lights and make sure door is locked.

3.      Take cell phone, building keys, first aid kit (with emergency folder attached) and current daily attendance sheet.

4.      Line up children with one teacher in front and one teacher in back.

5.      IF all children are accounted for and in line, the front teacher calls “Ready” and the back teacher responds “Ready”.

6.      Lines move quickly and quietly to the on-site evacuation location.

7.      Front teacher immediately counts children as they enter the location.

8.      Back teacher confirms count.

9.      If there are any discrepancies, the front teacher uses cell phone to communicate discrepancy to the director or person in charge.

10.  Remain in place until further instructions are given by director or local authorities.

11.  When evacuation-on site is concluded, return to the classroom by using the same line-up method as outlined above.

12.  Front teacher immediately counts children as they return to the classroom to sit on the carpet.

13.  Back teacher confirms count.

14.  If there are any discrepancies, the front teacher uses cell phone to communicate discrepancy to the director or person in charge.

15.  All children should remain on the carpet until “All Clear” is called.

Evacuation Plan-Off Site

This plan is only used in the event of dangerous or hazardous conditions on the campus of St. Michael, therefore requiring the evacuation of the preschool to another location.

1.      Off-site Evacuation Location: Lisbon Volunteer Fire Department

2.      Director will call ahead to Lisbon Volunteer Fire Department.

3.      Turn off classroom lights and lock doors.

4.      Take cell phone, car keys, building keys, first aid kit (with emergency folder attached) and current daily attendance sheet.

5.      Line up children with one teacher in front and one teacher in back.

6.      IF all children are accounted for and in line, the front teacher calls “Ready” and the back teacher responds “Ready”.

7.      The preschool will move quickly and quietly to the off-site location via director vehicle.

8.      Front teacher immediately counts children as they enter the vehicle.

9.      Back teacher confirms count.

10.  If there are any discrepancies, the front teacher uses cell phone to immediately communicate discrepancy to the director or person in charge.

11.  Drive to evacuation site: Located at 1330 Woodbine Rd. Woodbine MD. Turn left onto

12.  Front teacher to count all children upon arrival at evacuation site.

13.  Back teacher confirms count.

14.  If there are any discrepancies, the front teacher uses cell phone to immediately communicate discrepancy to the director or person in charge.

15.  Remain at evacuation site until further instructions are given by director or local authorities.

16.  When evacuation-off site is concluded, return to the classroom by using the same line-up/count method as outlined above.

17.  Front teacher immediately counts children as they return to the classroom to sit on the carpet.

18.  Back teacher confirms count.

19.  If there are any discrepancies, the front teacher uses cell phone to immediately communicate discrepancy to the director or person in charge.

20.  All children should remain on the carpet until “All Clear” is called.

Reunification with Parents

      If St. Michael Preschool has evacuated to Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company, parents will be notified via phone and email. To reunify safely, the director and staff will notify parents via phone and email when it is safe to pick up their children

      If St. Michael Preschool must evacuate to the Lisbon Fire Company, the staff of St. Michael’s will notify parents they can go to the Lisbon Fire Company (1330 Woodbine Rd, Woodbine, MD 21797, 410 489 4646)  to pick up their children.

     Staff will remain on campus or at emergency location until all children have been safely picked up.

      In the event of an emergency where the parents cannot get to the child, other arrangements for safety will be made, including the child and staff remaining at Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company.

      Staff will call other parties listed on the child’s emergency card to locate and inform other authorized adults they can pick up the child.

      Staff and parents will work together for a successful reunification of all parents and their children..

Reversing the Latest Mohammedan Jihad

​Back in 2008, I wrote an article in the American Civil Defense Association (TACDA) Civil Defense Journal called, "Free Web Safety & Emergency Tools." It highlighted how first responders could use social media tools to work better. ​
That is the good side of the social media technology use.

Sadly, there is an evil side using the same technology,
ISIS or an ISIS clone can create widespread panic through the use of social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram as a force multiplier if they use these tools in tandem with an actual physical assault within the United States.
Think about that. ONE rogue ISIS devotee in a truck shut down the city of Berlin, Germany, Christmas week. 
Imagine if they get their act together and organize a coordinated attack.
Like on multiple churches and day care centers.

A social media force multiplier as I use the term here is an individual or small team who, through the use of special tactics, can do the damage of a much larger force. 
It is easy to understand that a skilled sniper is a force multiplier on the battle field. Why? Because snipers are capable of force multiplication without ever directly engaging the enemy, they are a commonly known force multiplier. I propose that a few jihadi social media “snipers” can create the kind of chaos, death, destruction, and panic to millions of American civilians.

Orson Wells in his famous 1938 drama “War of the Worlds” achieved massive citizen panic using just his voice and an earlier social media tool, the radio. 

ISIS has far more sophisticated tools at its disposal, and it knows how to use them.

Once underway this kind of large-scale citizen panic is difficult to contain. 

As they have already cut off captives heads, engaged in mass murder and mass rape, enslaved thousands, turned Christian churches into prisons, recruited, trained and activated suicide bombers and engaged in other widespread and repeated violent behavior, their launching multiple attacks inside the U.S. is easily imaginable.

Given their proficiency and experience coordinating their attacks with social media propaganda, ISIS using social media as a multiplier force is also easily imaginable.

The full impact of that attack is not imaginable, although their use of these social media tools for the past several years in the Middle East and globally shows they are proficient in their use.

We can shut down ISIS social media tools BEFORE their use of them results in large numbers of death, panic, mayhem and destruction.

The consequences of waiting until AFTER this social media force multiplier is used on a larger scale are unimaginable. 
We can connect the dots on this one now. 
We can also take care of this threat now if we show the wisdom, courage, and action that our future children and grandchildren depend upon.

Funny thing...when I look at the statistics for this post, besides the United States, the most view are from China, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates.  Wonder why.

I have gamed all this out in a novel I wrote called The President is Hostage: Payback's a Bitch.
You can read it in book or digital format. 
Here is a summary.

"Terrorists worldwide united in their hatred of American freedom strike the United States in a coordinated attack in one day. At first, they deal out death, mayhem and destruction across America. Until, that is, Frank McKenna, National Guard 10th Mountain Brigade out of Ft. Ashby, West Virginia counterattacks and brings God's justice down on their sorry asses.
Frank McKenna, West Virginia fruit grower and Special Forces Reservist, receives a call at 4:22 a.m. from the government.
He assembles his specialized gear and heads for a prearranged assembly point for his unit. On the way, he reads a passage from Proverbs 28: 1-2: “...When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order...” and Revelation 6:3: “...When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come out! Then another horse came out. It was fiery red. And its rider was given the power to take away all peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another. He was also given a big sword.” 

Colonel Watson arrives at Frank’s orchard to use it as a command and operations center as so much of America’s once mighty war machine is compromised by the terrorist's first strike.
Abdullah, the mastermind behind uniting a dozen of the most lethal terrorist groups in the world to strike at the United States in one day, gives instructions to Ferric Mohammed, the American Black Muslim who has been on his payroll for years. 

Ferric has hidden behind front organizations like “The Committee for a Free Palestine” and “Muslim Brotherhood Association for Economic Development and Freedom.” for two decades to raise a terrorist force of 24,000 to assist in the destruction of America. Together with sundry Muslim terrorist groups worldwide, and other groups out on the fringe, Abdullah’s years at George Washington University and working in the United States paid off, he was in control of the White House and had the President of the United States hostage. 

 The Pentagon is almost totally inoperative. All over the United States people are quick to find that those explosions are American icons -- the World Trade Center, the Sears Tower, the TransAmerica Building, destroyed.
Abdullah confronts the President and his circle in the White House bunker. He lectures him about the foolishness of supporting 12 million Jews over two billion Muslims. He shows the President news feeds that show how destructive his coordinated attack on the United States has been. He issues his demand that the Jews leave the Middle East.
In a flashback, Adbullah goes to the mountain camps of the M-19 Shining Path. They agree to use their considerable skill at blowing up power plants to shut down America’s energy grid on the day of the first strike.
Tom Wosniac, Ph.D. in Greek philosophy and Presidential intelligence aide de camp, visits Joe McKenna, Frank’s father, at the McKenna Orchard. He grills him about his job as a trolley driver in Washington, D.C. in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Joe McKenna’s father drove a trolley line that went right under the White House, which Tom wants to use to free the President and his staff. Over a satellite phone, Joe tells Frank exactly where the tunnel runs.
Frank and his unit land at Ball’s Bluff across from White’s Ferry above Potomac, MD and begin to weave down River Road to Georgetown. They meet stiff resistance from Adbullah’s army in Georgetown and on K Street. In coordination with several other Special Forces units, they succeed at escaping through back alleys to the Dupont Circle entrance to the tunnels under Washington, D.C. Americans, a heavily armed people, take their nation back."

For more information, see: ScribdVienna1683 and here. 

USS ZUMWALT DDG 100 Commissioning

On 15 October 2016 I had the honor of attending the commissioning of the US Zumwalt DDG 100 Pax Propter Vim (Peace Through Power). 

It's just a stunning breakthrough in American war fighting technology.

It was built by General Dynamics at their Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine.
Specifications::
Length: 610 Feet
Beam:  80.7 Feet
Draft:  27.6 Feet
Speed:  30 Knots
Displacement:  15,742 Lightweight Tons
Installed Power:  78 Megawatts
Crew Size:  175 Personnel

James A. Kirk, the Commanding Officer of the USS ZUMWALT, had this to say about the Admiral Zumwalt the ship is named after.

It was an honor to attend this commissioning. I loved seeing the old Navy Vets who were as startled by the technology evident on this space-age ocean ship as I was. It is no coincidence that the Commander is named James A. Kirk.

"Forty-six years ago Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. became our Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), a position he held from 1970 to 1974. At only forty-nine years of age, he remains the youngest to have been appointed as CNO. On his watch, he reformed the Navy making it both a more capable fighting force during the Cold War and a more just institution by comforting discrimination and removing barriers for women and minorities. 

He ended regulations that were burdensome; embraced the important role that families play in our Sailors' careers; and demanded that people be treated with dignity and respect regardless of rank. He was a "Sailor's Admiral" in heart and deed..."

"...USS ZUMWALT's entry to the Fleet marks the beginning of a wave of anew technologies that will inevitably alter the trajectory of naval shipbuilding. ZIMWALT (DDG 1000) is a powerful ship. Stealth, power -- 78 megawatts -- enough to power a medium-sized city, electric propulsion, advanced sensors and weapons and an unprecedented level of automation enabled by a sophisticated information network will bring agile and precision combat power to hear wherever the ship sails. 

USS ZUMWALT is a potent instrument of Sea Power -- and that is fitting given Admiral Zumwalt's lifelong belief in peace through strength, or Pax Propter Vim, the motto of this magnificent ship and crew."

Here are a few photos I took of this magnificent event.