Who this toolkit is for

This toolkit is designed for mission-driven organizations seeking to improve readiness for violent incidents, including:

• Houses of worship.
• Schools, camps and youth-serving programs.
• Nonprofits with community-facing services.
• Community centers and event spaces.

Whether you’re just starting or already have safety protocols in place, this toolkit offers resources to build or strengthen plans tailored to your people and facilities.

Why active-threat preparedness matters

Violent incidents can occur with little warning and escalate rapidly. Without planning and clarity, organizations may experience:

• Confusion during an emergency.
• Communication breakdowns under stress.
• Increased risk to people and mission.
• Legal and financial exposure.

Proactive preparedness helps organizations:

• Build awareness of potential threats.
• Clarify roles, responsibilities and communications.
• Practice response in realistic scenarios.
• Strengthen recovery through evaluation and follow-up.

Preparation is an ongoing commitment — not a one-time task.

What’s included in the Active Threat Preparedness Toolkit

The Active Threat Preparedness Toolkit brings together guidance, planning tools and evaluation resources designed to help organizations prepare for, respond to and learn from armed intruder scenarios. Each resource supports a different stage of preparedness and works together as part of an ongoing readiness approach.

Armed vs. Unarmed: Facility Security Team Options

This resource helps organizations evaluate different facility security team approaches based on their size, mission, culture and risk profile. It provides guidance to help leaders:

• Understand considerations related to armed and unarmed security options.
• Evaluate roles, responsibilities and training needs.
• Weigh operational, legal and cultural factors.
• Make informed decisions aligned with organizational values.

The goal is not to prescribe a single solution, but to support thoughtful, informed planning.

Armed Intruder Planning Checklist

The planning checklist helps organizations assess the foundational elements of armed intruder preparedness. It supports teams in reviewing and strengthening:

• Emergency response planning and protocols.
• Communication and notification procedures.
• Facility access and security considerations.
• Training, drills and coordination efforts.

The checklist offers a structured way to identify gaps and prioritize next steps.

Armed Intruder Preparedness Tabletop Drill

The tabletop drill walks leadership and staff through a realistic armed intruder scenario in a discussion‑based setting. It helps organizations:

• Practice response decision‑making in a low‑risk environment.
• Clarify roles and responsibilities during an incident.
• Identify communication and coordination challenges.
• Build confidence in preparedness plans.

Tabletop drills help turn written plans into actionable readiness.

Armed Intruder Preparedness Drill Evaluation

The evaluation tool is designed to be used after completing the tabletop drill. It helps organizations:

• Capture lessons learned and key observations.
• Identify strengths and areas for improvement.
• Update plans, procedures and training priorities.
• Track preparedness progress over time.

Using the evaluation reinforces preparedness as a continuous process rather than a one‑time activity.

Coverage support: Catastrophic Violence Response

General liability insurance provided by Church Mutual could include Catastrophic Violence Response support, which helps reimburse expenses tied to violent incidents injuring two or more people (excluding the perpetrator), regardless of fault. This coverage can help offset costs related to:

• Medical care and counseling.
• Crisis communications and public relations.
• Temporary staffing or operational disruptions.
• Legal and logistical response needs.

Preparedness and coverage work hand-in-hand — combining readiness with financial resilience.

How organizations can use this toolkit

• Create or enhance active-threat plans based on industry best practices.
• Run tabletop exercises to practice response in a realistic setting.
• Evaluate and strengthen plans using after-action tools.
• Coordinate with local responders and reinforce security protocols.
• Communicate plans clearly to staff, volunteers and stakeholders.

Whether you're initiating preparedness or updating existing strategies, these tools help you move step-by-step toward a safer, more confident response.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is ALICE training required?

No. While ALICE is a recognized option-based response framework, this toolkit supports any approach your organization adopts.

2. How often should tabletop exercises be held?

At least annually — or when facilities, personnel or threat levels change. Exercise with the same care as emergency drills.

3. Does Catastrophic Violence Response coverage apply if an incident injures only one person?

Catastrophic Violence Response applies when two or more people are injured. For single-person incidents, standard liability coverage may still apply.

Why download the Active Threat Preparedness Toolkit?

By downloading the complete toolkit, your organization gets:

• Practical guidance tailored to real-world preparedness.
• Structured tools to exercise and test plans.
• Clear evaluation resources for continuous improvement.
• Coverage insight to help protect your people and mission.