Protecting Houses of Worship
| Learn how to safeguard your house of worship Faith-based events and houses of worship, such as churches, synagogues, and mosques, are inherently welcoming, with open access and publicly available schedules for services and events. However, this welcoming nature can pose risks. The past few years have seen a tragic increase in the number of hate crimes, and houses of worship have often been the target of those crimes. As leaders of Maine’s faith-based organizations and houses of worship, you can take steps to proactively reduce risks and provide safe, secure and resilient places of worship and faith-based gatherings. A Protecting Houses of Worship event will be held at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center on Thursday, October 13, 2022 from 9 AM – 12:30 PM. Brought to you by Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA); Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA); Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Boston Field Office, Portland Resident Agency; U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Community Relations Service (CRS); and U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maine, along with the participation of local law enforcement, our goal is to provide practical information, tools and resources to help bolster emergency preparedness efforts and foster best practices to keep Maine’s faith-based events and houses of worship safe. Topics discussed during the event will include: Security, Risk and Vulnerability AssessmentActive Shooter Preparedness, Response & ResourcesBuilding Your Own Emergency Operations PlanFaith-Based Experiences with Public Safety Issues |
