Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 5 December 2024

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.

2 kindergarteners wounded and gunman dead after shooting at California religious school

The AP article reports:

Two children were in “extremely critical condition” Wednesday after being shot at a tiny religious K-8 school in Northern California and the gunman died at the scene, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot, police said.

The gunman may have targeted the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in Palermo because of its religious affiliation, but isn’t believed to have had a prior connection to the victims or the school, Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea said. He didn’t explain further.

…

He said the shooter was in a meeting with an administrator about enrolling a child at the school, which he described as “cordial.” But it seems that was his first visit to the school and he had no prior connection to the victims. Shortly after that, shots rang out, Honea said.

…

The gunman’s body was found near the slide and other playground equipment on the grounds of the school, which abuts ranchland where cattle graze. A handgun was found nearby, Honea said.

Additional Articles:

• BREAKING NEWS: Active Shooter at Christian School in California
• ‘Unconscionable’: Pastor with close ties to Feather River Adventist reacts to school shooting

Analyst Comments:

Sadly, shootings remain a threat to schools of all sizes and faiths. Those responsible for security at faith-based schools should consider creating an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) or reviewing their current plans. CISA provides an Active Shooter Emergency Action Plan Product Suite website which includes an Active Shooter Emergency Action Plan (Guide) and Active-Shooter-Emergency-Action-Plan-Template.

Additionally, Faith-Based ISAO’s website provides resources in the Resource Library, including information on Securing School Facilities and Students.

Church Security at Christmas: 10 Tips for Holiday Protection

The Virginia Fusion Center’s (VFC) FaithAware website provides tools and resources. One of the resources is the 2023 Church Security at Christmas: 10 Tips for Holiday Protection guide from Worship Facility.

From the Worship Facility guide:

With families drawing close in heartfelt reunions and congregations deeply immersed in celebrating the birth of Christ, the Church’s holiday season emerges as a beacon of unity, and spiritual devotion. Yet, amidst these cherished moments, the modern church faces multifaceted challenges in ensuring the safety of its congregation.

…

As the festive season approaches and your church becomes the bustling hub of celebration, it’s paramount to prioritize the safety and well-being of all attendees. This guide has delved into 10 critical measures that every House of Worship should consider, from the foundational steps of enhancing building security to the nuanced practices of monitoring suspicious behavior.

The guide details the following 10 security tips for holiday protection:

Tip 1: Building Security

Tip 2: Weatherproofing the Outside Area

Tip 3: Review Security Levels

Tip 4: Monitor Suspicious Behavior

Tip 5: Emergency Operations Walkthrough

Tip 6: Medical Response Readiness

Tip 7: Guard Against Theft 

Tip 8: Thorough Volunteer Background Checks

Tip 9: Prioritize Prevention

Tip 10: Plan for Service Disruptions

Analyst Comments:

While the above item was published last year, the information is still useful to those involved with security of houses of worship this holiday season.

Fusion Centers

In addition to providing resources like the one above, the VFC’s FaithAware website provides links to nationwide “Incidents/Articles of Note” which relate to communities of faith. While the VFC is based in Virginia, their resources can be of use by those outside of Virginia.  While the VFC is based in Virginia, their resources can be of use by those outside of Virginia. 

Additionally, those responsible for security of Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) should consider utilizing any outreach provided by their state or regional Fusion Center. DHS provides fusion center contact information on their Fusion Center Locations and Contact Information website. State or regional fusion centers may provide resources for, or outreach to, communities of faith.