Help prepare your church for severe weather season
It’s wonderful to be able to enjoy the warmer temperatures that often accompany Spring, but it is important to remember that the potential for severe weather also increases during this season. Many areas face risks of hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, and hailstorms, but there are steps your church can take to help better prepare for these events should they occur.
Here are some severe weather preparedness considerations for your church:
Know your risk- Routinely check your local weather forecast so you are aware of your risk for severe weather.
Develop a plan- Prepare a severe weather safety and communications plan and practice it with key leaders and your congregation.
Assemble a preparedness kit- Put together a preparedness kit to have on hand should severe weather strike. Your kit may include first aid supplies, water, flashlights, batteries, non-perishable food, toilet paper, a radio, wrench/pliers to turn off utilities, blankets, and other important items.
Take care of trees- Remove any dead or rotting trees and trim healthy trees to help avoid damage caused by falling branches.
Secure objects- Take precautions by securing any loose outdoor objects that could blow away and cause damage during high winds.
Close doors and windows- Be sure to close doors and windows securely before severe weather strikes.
Maintain clean gutters and drains- Keep your gutters and drains clean to help avoid drainage issues.
Appropriate insurance- Having appropriate insurance in place should your church be impacted by severe weather can make a big difference in helping to rebuild your ministry. If you are unsure of what your current policy covers or have questions about risks your property faces, UMIP can help! Contact us at 484-654-3380 or at UMI@sovinsurance.com.
Post- storm Finally, if your church has been impacted by severe weather, taking action, when it is safe to do so, can help to reduce additional damage to your property. When authorities have given the okay, visit your property to assess the damage. If there is damage, contact your insurance agency or company as soon as possible to report the damage and begin the claims process. Also, enlist the help of qualified professionals to perform your property inspections as necessary due to the many hazards that may be present (electrical, fire, gas, structural, etc.).
When you are covered by UMIP, we will be there when you need us. Churches have unique needs. As a part of the denomination, we understand the unique needs of United Methodist churches and their operations, which is reflected in our coverage options. Your ministry deserves outstanding insurance and UMIP works for you each day to help protect your church’s people, property, and finances.
Let's talk! Contact us at 484-654-3380 or at UMI@sovinsurance.com.
This content has been prepared by United Methodist Insurance Company (UMI) for informational purposes only. No article or document may accurately contemplate all possible scenarios or church resources. As such, this information is meant to foster discussion by the individual church and its members to develop a plan tailored to its own circumstances. UMI is providing this information with no warranties or guarantees of any kind and it should not be viewed as legal, financial, or other professional advice. All liability is expressly disclaimed. Any claim examples described herein are general in nature, may or may not be based on actual claims, and are for informational purposes only. Any coverage available for a claim is determined from the facts and circumstances of the claim as well as the terms and conditions of any applicable policy, including any exclusions or deductibles. In the event of a conflict with the content herein, the terms and conditions of any issued policy will control. Individual coverage may vary and may not be available in all states.
The commercial insurance coverages for United Methodist Insurance are sold and serviced directly or indirectly by Sovereign Insurance Agency (CA Lic. No. 0B01380) ("Sovereign") and underwritten by various available insurance markets. Sovereign pays United Methodist Insurance a royalty for the use of its intellectual property.