Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 23 December 2025

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters.

Reminder there will be no DAP from December 24^th through December 28^th, the DAP will begin posting again on December 29^th.

Safeguarding Congregations: A Comprehensive Approach to Civil Disturbance Preparedness

The Kearnan Consulting Group article “Safeguarding Congregations: A Comprehensive Approach to Civil Disturbance Preparedness” outlines how houses of worship can proactively prepare for and respond to civil disturbances and protests that may arise near their facilities. It begins by emphasizing the importance of understanding legal rights and responsibilities around public assemblies, and the role of collaboration with local government and law enforcement in mitigating risks. The piece recommends that church leaders establish protocols for property protection such as requesting police presence, enforcing trespassing laws, and documenting disruptive behavior to safeguard congregants and property. It also highlights the need for information gathering and situational awareness through training and surveillance, including watching for suspicious behaviors and monitoring unauthorized drone activity. The article also advises congregations on tailored responses to non-threatening demonstrations as well as escalating situations, suggesting steps like early dismissal of activities, setting boundaries for demonstrators, initiating lockdown procedures, and keeping key staff informed and connected with legal counsel. The overall message stresses proactive planning, clear communication, and strong partnerships with law enforcement to ensure congregations remain safe and resilient even amid societal unrest. 

Analyst Comments: From a risk and resilience standpoint, Kearnan Consulting Group’s guidance reinforces that civil disturbance preparedness for congregations is not about reacting in the moment but, instead, about advance planning, clarity of roles, and realistic threat assessment. Faith-based organizations can underestimate their exposure, assuming they are unlikely targets, yet their predictable schedules, symbolic value, and open-door culture can increase vulnerability during periods of heightened social tension. The article appropriately emphasizes proportional responses recognizing the difference between lawful protest and disruptive or threatening behavior while underscoring the operational need for coordination with law enforcement and legal counsel before incidents escalate.

Key takeaways include:

• The importance of situational awareness and early indicators (e.g., protest planning, online rhetoric, unusual surveillance)
• Clear decision-making authority for suspending services or initiating lockdowns
• Communication plans that prioritize congregant safety without inflaming tensions

TSA prepares for record holiday travel season, stresses security posture

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is gearing up for an end-of-year holiday travel period that could set new records, with an estimated 44.3 million passengers expected to be screened at U.S. airport security checkpoints between December 19, 2025, and January 4, 2026. TSA anticipates the busiest single travel day will be Sunday, December 28, with around 2.86 million passengers passing through checkpoints, followed by other peak travel dates on December 19, 20, 21, 27 and 29. These figures would surpass previous holiday travel volumes, highlighting the strong travel demand during this season.

Analyst Comments: From an operational risk perspective, TSA’s projections underscore how sustained record-level passenger volumes are becoming the norm rather than the exception, which places continued pressure on airport infrastructure, staffing endurance, and downstream systems like baggage handling and ground transportation. While TSA indicates it is fully staffed, peak-day congestion still increases the likelihood of delays, traveler frustration, and secondary security risks such as overcrowded terminals or reduced situational awareness. For travelers, the data highlights the practical value of arriving early, leveraging programs like TSA Precheck, and building schedule buffers, particularly on forecasted peak days when even minor disruptions can cascade quickly.

Nerd Out EP 65. Holiday attacks and disruptions, checking in on predictions, and other Nerd news

The Gate 15 Nerd Out! Security Panel Discussion, moderated by Dave Pounder, focuses on physical security topics including terrorism, extremism, hostile events, and other pertinent topics.

In this week’s Nerd Out, Dave and Alec dig into the Bondi Beach attack and what lessons can be learned before looking at the NYE attack that was disrupted.

Information on other Gate 15 podcasts can be found at Podcasts (gate15.global).