Everything You Need To Know About Active Shooter Insurance For Churches
No one wants to think about the possibility of an active shooter at their church. But the sad reality is that these attacks are becoming increasingly common.
That’s why churches must have active shooter insurance in place. This type of policy can help cover the costs of medical expenses, property damage, legal fees, and more.
If your church doesn’t have active shooter insurance, now is the time to get it. Here are a few things you should know about this type of coverage:
What Is An Active Shooter Insurance Policy?
Active shooter insurance is a type of insurance that provides financial protection for houses of worship against the threat of mass shootings. An insurer specializing in church insurance may automatically include insurance protection in a religious organization’s package policy.
Active shooter insurance may cover medical and funeral expenses and business interruption costs. It can also help pay for legal defense expenses if a survivor of a mass shooting incident decides to sue the company for not providing adequate safeguards.
What Does Active Shooter Insurance Cover For Religious Organizations?
An active shooter event can be devastating for any nonprofit organization to recover from. Ensuring your church insurance program includes shooter liability insurance can help protect religious centers for their legal obligations.
Active shooter coverage may include liability insurance coverage for the following:
- Medical and funeral expenses for those affected by the event
- Liability in the event of lawsuits
- Physical damage protection for building repairs
- Organization’s legal defense costs
- Business interruption coverage for loss of income due to forced closure
- Repatriation for those killed
- Public relations costs
- Crisis consultant costs
- Employee counseling
- Additional temporary security measures
Talk with one of our church insurance brokers and see how we can protect your churches and schools from a tragic event.
Violent Incident and Crisis Management Insurance Coverage For Churches
Active shooter insurance can help provide a layer of third-party liability protection, which covers crisis management needs organizations face in response to a church shooting involving killing or attempting to kill individuals on your property.
Church insurance companies typically pay up to $300,000 for violence insurance coverage for crisis management. This can include workplace violence response following an active shooter event.
In the event of an active shooter, a business insurance policy provides coverage for additional expenses such as:
- A security guard and safety consultant costs
- Employee counseling services
- Include physical security upgrades
- Legal costs associated with defending the church in a civil lawsuit
- Public relations services to manage media attention
- Crisis management team costs
- Expenses related to reconfiguring or restoring normal operations after a violent event.
Violent incident and crisis management insurance can help churches address financial, emotional, and physical losses associated with a covered loss.
Does My Ministry Insurance Policy Include Church Liability Coverage For Shooting Insurance?
The coverage offered in a ministry insurance policy largely depends on the policy purchased. Some policies may include church liability coverage for shooting insurance, while others may not.
Churches should carefully review their ministry insurance policies with one of our licensed church insurance agents to determine if they have sufficient coverage in case of shooting-related incidents. Purchasing a separate standalone policy may be difficult if shooting insurance is not included.
What is Active Assailant Coverage?
Active assailant coverage provides financial protection to businesses and organizations in case of an active shooter or other hostile incidents.
This coverage can be added as a rider to existing insured liability insurance policies and covers damages arising from an active shooter situation.
What Kind Of Active Shooter Training For Churches is Available?
As an elder board, pastor, or church leader, you must provide the needed training for your security team. Shooter insurance can help protect a church financially; however, training is required to protect your church members and visitors.
Church security training is a risk management practice that may include basic safety and awareness workshops to more in-depth training covering active shooter response protocols, threat assessment, evacuation and lockdown procedures, intruder detection, behavior pattern recognition and threat identification, and surveillance systems.
A.L.I.V.E. and Guardian Defense provide online and in-person training for groups looking to train their staff.
How To Establish An Active Shooter Plan For Churches?
Establishing an active shooter plan for churches is paramount in today’s world. Firstly, the church should form a safety team with individuals from different backgrounds and expertise for this task.
The team should develop a safety plan to identify the target areas like the main entrance, exit points, and other hiding places. Training sessions must be conducted for the church members to respond quickly and effectively during an attack.
First aid and medical kits should be readily available and easily accessible during emergencies. The church should also establish a communication system to alert law enforcement and inform members about the situation.
The team should regularly review the plan and identify any necessary changes for immediate implementation. Churches can find a sample active shooter plan here.
How To Respond If An Active Shooter Attacks Your Church?
In the unfortunate event of an active shooter attacking your church, it is vital to have a plan and stay calm. The first response should be to call 911 and provide as much information as possible about the situation.
Try to evacuate the building or find a safe hiding spot if possible. Lock doors, turn off lights, and silence phones to avoid detection. If confronted by the shooter, try to remain calm and comply with their demands if possible.
Remember to stay low, keep a clear head, and be ready to follow the instructions of law enforcement once they arrive on the scene. All church members must receive regular training and drills on what to do in the event of an active shooter.
Does A Church Security Ministry Team Scare People Away?
No, having a church security team does not necessarily scare people away. While it is true that the presence of a church security team can be intimidating, it is essential to remember that the primary purpose of the group is to protect the church and its members.
When possible, a church security team should comprise current law enforcement officers or prior military members. The security team is trained to respond to threats and can help create an environment of safety, security, and peace of mind.
Are Active Shootings Only Related To Terrorism?
No, active shootings are not only related to terrorism. Although some active shootings have been linked to terrorism, many cases are not linked to any terrorist organization or ideology.
A Basic Church Active Shooter Plan Should Include What Key Components
There are four critical components of an active shooter plan which include:
- There needs to be a clear protocol for addressing an active shooter, including how to alert law enforcement and communicate with congregants. This may include designated individuals to handle these tasks or staff members who have received specialized training in crisis communication.
- The plan should account for effectively evacuating the building, including identifying safe exits and establishing procedures for congregants to follow.
- Provisions should be made for congregants requiring immediate medical attention or other support services.
- The church should regularly review and update its active shooter plan to remain current and effective.
Active Shooter Insurance Coverage Scenarios
Here are two scenarios based on typical general liability policies for churches with active shooter insurance endorsement.
Scenario 1: A pastor is shot by an armed individual who enters the church during his sermon.
Response 1: In the event of a violent incident, the Violent Incident Response coverage would offer a maximum of $50,000 medical coverage for the pastor, up to $2,500 in counseling expenses for the victim, their family member, or any witness, and a maximum of $100,000 for group counseling, additional security services, or public relations services to address any negative perception or communication-related costs.
Scenario 2: A College arranges a trip to Canada to serve a mission; however, an individual hijacks the bus during the journey and takes your students captive. Fortunately, at the close of the day, all group members remain unharmed.
Response 2: The Crisis Management policy would offer compensation of up to $2,500 for individual counseling expenses incurred by victims and up to $100,000 for group counseling.
How Do Synagogues Deal With The Aftermath Of An Armed Intruder?
Synagogues are places of worship and peace, and the thought of an armed intruder can be terrifying. While statistically, the likelihood of such an incident is relatively low, synagogues must be prepared and have a plan.
Nonprofits can deal with the aftermath of an armed intruder by providing mental health counseling services for congregants who may have witnessed or been psychologically affected by it. They may also increase security measures, such as hiring security personnel, installing security cameras, and adding metal detectors.
Additionally, synagogues may conduct drills and provide training for congregants to ensure they know what to do in an emergency. Ultimately, synagogues must prioritize the safety and well-being of their congregants and take all necessary precautions to prevent, prepare for, and respond to an armed intruder.
We Specialize In General Liability And Property Insurance That Includes Active Shooter Coverage For Churches And Nonprofits
At Integrity Now Insurance Brokers, we pride ourselves on offering specialized insurance coverage for our valued clients. Our services include general liability, church property insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, business auto insurance, abuse and molestation insurance, directors and officers insurance, religious expression insurance, and active shooter coverage for churches and nonprofit organizations.
We understand the unique risks and challenges of operating a religious or nonprofit institution and work hard to provide tailored protection that meets these needs. Our policies help you mitigate risk and safeguard your assets, so you can focus on your mission and achieve your goals.
We understand that congregations may fear an active shooter incident could strike their place of worship. We are here to help ensure your board members confidently say their church insurance coverage includes active shooter liability insurance.
With top-rated carriers, competitive rates, and exceptional service, Integrity Now Insurance Brokers is your trusted partner for all your insurance needs.
Contact us today to discuss your options and get a quote.
