tree of life synagogue

Protecting Your House of Worship

FEMA offers a "one-stop shop" for faith-based organizations to access security resources.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offers numerous resources to assist faith-based and community organizations with their efforts to prepare for all types of hazards, whether natural or man-made. Technical assistance is provided through presentations, workshops, training, webinars, tabletop exercises, and training.

In coordination with interagency partners, the DHS Center for Faith & Opportunity Initiatives and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) established a website for faith-based organizations that serves as a “one-stop shop” for information on available Federal tools, resources, and assistance: www.fema.gov/faith-resources.

Additionally, DHS’s National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) offers a wide range of security and resilience tools, training, and resources. Through its Hometown Security initiative, these resources are made available to communities, including faith-based organizations. Many of these resources were created in collaboration with private sector partners to ensure they are useful and reflect the evolving security landscape. The list of resources below was created to help the private sector with their security planning, and many of these practices can also be used more broadly in local venues visited by large numbers of people, such as faith-based organizations.

The FEMA site will take you to the full message from FEMA to help design a workable plan and a guide for protecting faith-based venues.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Campus Security Today.

Featured

  • ASIS International Introduces ANSI-Approved School Security Standard

    ASIS International, a leading authority in security standards, is excited to announce the release of its American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-approved standard designed to provide a framework for developing, implementing, maintaining, and improving school security. The first comprehensive standard of its kind provides a critical benchmark for assessing and improving a school’s security posture regardless of size and funding. Read Now

  • High School Football Game Security

    The high school football season is scheduled to commence across the country in the coming weeks. The players and coaches have worked extremely hard preparing for a successful season. Students, parents, and the community are ready to support their teams. Read Now

  • Partner Alliance for Safer Schools Releases 2025 Update to Safety and Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools

    The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) has released the seventh edition of its Safety and Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools, which offer the most comprehensive information available on nationwide leading practices specifically for securing school facilities, from subject matter experts across the education, public safety and industry sectors. Read Now

  • Enhancing K-12 Campus Safety with Smart Sensors

    In today’s educational environment, school safety is a top priority—not just for administrators, but for parents, students, and entire communities. Gone are the days when locking doors and hiring a school resource officer were sufficient deterrents to threats. Read Now

Most   Popular