ADVERSE WEATHER POLICY
1. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is a) to promote the safety of the members, visitors and staff of Grace Fellowship OPC in the event of adverse weather conditions, and b) to provide guidelines for the leadership to follow when a scheduled church activity coincides with existing or expected adverse weather conditions. Congregants should always use their own best judgment with respect to their personal safety when deciding whether to attend a scheduled church activity. Likewise, leadership should be mindful that if a church activity is not canceled when unsafe weather conditions either exist or are expected, a congregant’s desire to attend the activity often makes it more difficult to decide not to attend. Canceling the activity makes the decision for all involved.
2. Adverse Weather Alerts, Watches and Warnings
A. The National Weather Service (NWS) issues a wide variety of daily statements regarding current and developing weather conditions. A WATCH is issued when conditions are expected to be favorable for adverse weather to develop in a particular area and timeframe. The WATCH is usually issued well ahead of when adverse weather is expected to occur. When a WATCH is issued, the leadership shall take note of how the weather could impact a scheduled church activity and monitor weather reports regularly as the planned activity approaches. The link to the NWS-Grand Rapids website is https://www.weather.gov/grr/.
B. The NWS issues a WARNING when adverse weather has developed in real time and its impact on a particular area is either occurring or imminent. It is typically issued less than an hour before its expected impact on that area, sometimes only a few minutes beforehand. Because some types of severe weather can develop rapidly and unpredictably even without a WATCH having been issued, if a church activity is being conducted while under a severe weather WATCH, an attendee shall be designated to monitor weather reports closely during the activity.
C. The NWS also issues other types of alerts or advisories for weather conditions that could impact outdoor activity or travel (extreme temperature, reduced visibility, damaging wind, unsafe road conditions, etc.). Leadership and congregants should make use of these statements when deciding whether to hold or attend a scheduled church activity.
3. Specific Adverse Weather Situations
A. If any part of Ottawa County is under a Tornado WARNING, a Severe Thunderstorm WARNING, a Winter Storm WARNING, a Blizzard WARNING, an Ice Storm WARNING, or a High-Wind WARNING within one hour before the start of a scheduled activity, the activity is automatically canceled. Leadership shall inform congregants or expected attendees immediately by email and/or text messaging. Cancelations due to adverse winter weather shall also be posted on WOOD-TV.
B. All other decisions on whether to cancel a worship service or congregational meeting due to adverse weather shall be made by a simple majority of the Session. Decisions on whether to cancel a meeting of the Board of Deacons shall be made by a simple majority of deacons. Decisions on whether to cancel any other ministry meeting or activity shall be made by the leadership of that group. Expected attendees shall be notified by email and/or text messaging.
C. This policy cannot anticipate all possible weather scenarios. If any other WATCH or WARNING is in effect for Ottawa County prior to a scheduled activity, or any of the WARNINGS listed above have not yet been issued for Ottawa County one hour before a scheduled activity but available weather statements indicate a significant potential for adverse weather, the leadership should consider canceling the activity.
D. If a Tornado WARNING or Severe Thunderstorm WARNING is issued during an activity, the activity shall end immediately. Attendees shall be encouraged to shelter in place but also given the opportunity to get to a place they feel is safer than the church facility. Those who leave, do so at their own risk. Attendees less than 18 years old should normally follow the instructions of the leadership. Those who remain in the church shall be directed to the safest areas of the facility, which would be an internal classroom, bathroom or hallway with no windows and at least one solid block wall. Due to its expansive ceiling, the sanctuary should not be used for shelter.
