Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 3 February 2026

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.

Tennis ball bomb found in donation bin at Mount Vernon church

Police in Mount Vernon, Washington, responded to a report of a suspected explosive device at a local church’s donation bin on East Evergreen Street around 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, January 29^th. An employee discovered what was believed to be a “tennis ball bomb” in the bin and alerted authorities. The Bellingham Police Department’s Hazardous Device Unit (HDU) arrived around 6:00 p.m., confirmed the object was an improvised explosive device, and safely disposed of it. Law enforcement continues investigating how and why the device was placed in the donation bin and who is responsible.

Analyst Comments: This incident underscores a risk faced by faith-based organizations: common, low-visibility infrastructure such as donation bins, mailboxes, and exterior drop points can be exploited to conceal dangerous devices. To reduce risk, houses of worship should consider relocating donation bins to well-lit, monitored areas, limiting after-hours access, and conducting routine visual checks before handling contents. Staff and volunteers should receive basic awareness training on recognizing suspicious objects and be encouraged to report concerns immediately without attempting to investigate themselves. Simple protective measures such as exterior cameras, clear lines of sight, signage discouraging misuse, and coordination with local law enforcement can significantly enhance safety while preserving the welcoming nature central to faith communities.

Active Tornado Season Expected in the US

The Insurance Journal reports that the 2026 U.S. tornado season is expected to be especially active, particularly across the Central Plains, with forecasters at the Kansas Institute of Tornado Dynamics (KITD) predicting about 15% more tornadoes than the 20-year average. Analyses driving this outlook point to persistent La Niña conditions, warmer-than-normal Gulf of Mexico sea surface temperatures, and an intensified low-level jet. Overall, KITD projects 1,450 – 1,600 tornadoes nationwide this season, with the most volatile period likely to be between April 15 and June 10, and areas such as Central Oklahoma, Eastern Kansas, and Northern Texas among the highest-risk zones. The institute also estimates a 22% greater chance of stronger (EF3 or above) tornadoes compared with the relative quiet of the 2025 season, suggesting elevated concerns for severe convective storm impacts on communities and insured assets across the region.

Analyst Comments: An above-average tornado outlook reflects a broader shift toward more frequent and damaging severe storms, increasing risk for insurers and community organizations alike. Even small increases in storm activity can cause disproportionate losses, especially to older facilities and critical infrastructure. For faith-based organizations and nonprofits, limited budgets, volunteer reliance, and dual roles as community shelters amplify these challenges, making preparedness and mitigation essential for continuity.

Preparation should prioritize life safety, facility readiness, and continuity planning. Organizations should review and practice severe-weather plans, identify safe interior spaces, and train staff and volunteers. Facilities should be checked for roof integrity, loose exterior elements, and nearby hazards. Leaders should also review insurance coverage, deductibles, and claims procedures. Coordination with local emergency management and maintaining backup communications and service-continuity plans can significantly reduce disruption and speed recovery after a tornado event.

A slippery slope: Winter Olympics scams and cyberthreats

As the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics approach, cybersecurity experts and travel safety analysts are warning that both online and offline scams are likely to proliferate around the event, exploiting global interest and high travel demand. Travelers and fans should beware of fraudulent ticket sellers, fake accommodation listings, and bogus travel packages that attempt to draw money or personal data through unofficial channels, look-alike websites, or social media ads. Cybercriminals also use phishing emails, malicious links, fake apps, and insecure public Wi-Fi networks to steal login credentials, financial information, or install malware on devices, and they may use techniques like SEO poisoning, QR-code phishing and AI-generated scams to make these threats more convincing. Other risks include free/illegal streaming sites laden with malware, fake employment or volunteer offers designed to harvest personal information, and social engineering on support forums or messaging platforms.

The articles emphasize that major sporting events have a long history of attracting such threats, and that vigilance is crucial before and during travel. To stay safe, fans should stick to official Olympics ticketing and accommodation sites, avoid unsolicited messages and public Wi-Fi when accessing sensitive data, install reputable cybersecurity tools, use strong unique passwords and two-factor authentication, and verify suspicious links or offers before engaging with them.

Analyst Comments: Large, high-profile events like the Winter Olympics often attract cybercriminals and fraudsters because of the combination of excitement, urgency, and unfamiliar environments. While this might seem distant from congregational life, faith leaders and volunteer coordinators should be aware that similar tactics time-sensitive appeals, phishing attempts, and impersonation of trusted organizations can target members of their communities. Congregants may receive urgent-looking donation requests, event invitations, or travel offers that appear legitimate but are fraudulent.

Faith leaders can use this information to proactively warn volunteers and congregants, encouraging them to verify requests, confirm URLs or email addresses, and avoid acting under pressure. Reminding members about digital hygiene strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and cautious use of public Wi-Fi can reduce risk. By framing scams in the context of protecting the congregation and volunteer networks, leaders can strengthen community resilience and trust.

Building an Intelligence Team for Your House of Worship

When: February 4, 2026, 12:00 PM ET. 

Register here.

This session is part of an FB-ISAO–led program, developed and delivered by our team to support faith-based organizations in building stronger threat awareness and intelligence capabilities.

The Mission and Purpose of an Intelligence Team and Program session will explore key questions such as:

• What is the local threat to my house of worship?
• Which threat actors or adversaries might support, plan, or carry out a malicious act in my area?

During the session, FB-ISAO panelists will discuss how broader contextual information—including global developments—can be used to better assess and understand local risks facing houses of worship. The discussion will focus on helping faith-based organizations determine:

• What information they need,
• Where to find that information, and
• How to process it in a meaningful, useful, and actionable way.