Use of Church Buildings in a Disaster

When other sheltering options are unavailable, priesthood leaders may consider the use of Church buildings for shelters or other purposes, following the guidelines below.

During or following a disaster, and with Area Presidency approval, a stake president may allow Church meetinghouses or other facilities (excluding temples) to be used temporarily as shelters, first aid or feeding stations, supply distribution centers, or information centers (see General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2020), 35.4.4, 22.5.3).

Considerations

Church buildings are generally not the first choice for shelters, as other community facilities or infrastructure may be better suited to accommodate large numbers of people for the following reasons:

• Cooking equipment and heaters that are not part of the normal meetinghouse furnishings may not be used.

• Pets are not allowed in Church buildings, except for service animals.

• Toilet facilities may not be adequate for daily use by large groups.

• Meetinghouse chapels and offices may only be used for Church purposes.

Building Use Policies

If other sites are unavailable, a Church building may be used as an emergency shelter after ecclesiastical authorization. Local leaders should notify the facilities manager and ensure that visitors observe Church standards of conduct while in the building. This includes refraining from the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.

An assigned ecclesiastical leader should always be present while another organization (such as the American Red Cross) is utilizing the building. Organizations are asked to sign a liability form for any damage to or misuse of the facility. In the United States, a Facility Use Agreement has been drafted for the American Red Cross. For other organizations, the Temporary Use Agreement should be used. Similar forms can be developed for use in other countries or with other organizations.