Houses of worship serve as places of sanctuary for us to meet with God and unburden ourselves from our daily troubles. Around the world, when tragedies like war and natural disasters strike, they serve as places of refuge. Having resources ahead of time will help prepare your house of worship to be a place of refuge in such times of crisis, and our changing climate is no different. Climate change is not just a slow-moving shift in temperature. Its effects are unevenly spreading across the Earth and can manifest in a variety of ways: heat waves, hurricanes, floods, droughts, and wildfires are among the most common effects.
It is critical to determine what specific climate impacts your region can reasonably expect. Assemble a team to analyze what risks your house of worship should plan for. Create a plan to respond to these risks, communicate and update your plan regularly, and put it to use!
Here are resources that can help you determine your risks and create climate refuge in your house of worship:
The Fourth National Climate Assessment Volume II
