Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 7 August 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.

Church Members Serve Neighbors as Spokane Wildfires Force Widespread Evacuations

As wildfires tore through the Spokane, Washington area, faith communities stepped into familiar roles as places of refuge, connection, and practical support. More than 60,000 people were forced to evacuate, and hundreds of homes and structures were destroyed as fires spread rapidly across eastern Washington. Local congregations responded quickly: members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opened meetinghouses, prepared meals, gathered supplies, and assisted displaced families, while Chabad-Lubavitch of Spokane launched a relief effort that raised approximately $11,000 within days and received an additional $5,000 emergency grant to support affected residents. One message from the Chabad fundraiser captured the spirit of the response: “In moments like these, there are no strangers. We are one Spokane community.” Across traditions, houses of worship became gathering points where people found food, shelter, information, emotional support, and a sense of community during a fast-moving disaster.

Analyst Comments: For faith-based organizations, these wildfires are a reminder that natural disasters can quickly transform a house of worship from a place of regular gathering into a center for relief and community support. Congregations are often among the first places people turn for trusted information, emotional encouragement, and practical assistance, even when the organization itself is affected by the disaster. As wildfires and other natural disasters continue to have increasing impacts on communities across the country, it is important for organizations to think through how they would respond before an emergency occurs. That includes planning for evacuations, identifying alternate locations for ministry operations, establishing reliable ways to communicate with members, protecting important records, and coordinating with local emergency management and community partners. Taking these steps in advance can help faith-based organizations continue serving their congregations and surrounding communities when disasters disrupt normal operations.

CISA still finds water system controls exposed online amid multistate hacks

A new warning from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) highlights that many U.S. water and wastewater systems continue to have internet-connected operational technology (OT) devices exposed online, despite repeated alerts and recent cyberattacks targeting multiple states. According to CISA, these exposed industrial control systems can allow unauthorized users to access or manipulate equipment that supports essential water operations, increasing the risk of service disruptions or other impacts. The agency noted that many of the vulnerabilities are tied to basic cybersecurity issues, such as internet-facing devices, weak authentication, and outdated systems that remain accessible to attackers. The continued discovery of these exposures reinforces that critical infrastructure organizations remain attractive targets and that many of the same security gaps identified in previous incidents have yet to be addressed.

Analyst Comments: Houses of worship rely on critical infrastructure every day to safely operate their ministries, schools, childcare programs, events, and community services. A cyberattack affecting a local water system could lead to service disruptions, boil water advisories, or operational challenges that impact everything from food ministries and restrooms to large gatherings and emergency shelters. This serves as a reminder that resilience extends beyond an organization’s own network and includes understanding how disruptions to community infrastructure could affect day-to-day operations. Planning for utility outages; identifying alternate ways to continue essential activities; and maintaining communication with staff, volunteers, and congregants can help faith-based organizations continue serving their communities when incidents affecting critical infrastructure occur.