A drone view of the Holy Trinity Church campus in its safety management plan identifies shut-off controls. (Photo courtesy of Holy Trinity Church)
Holy Trinity Parish crafts safety plan for worse-case scenarios
By Charlotte and Bob White
Special to the Herald
“Even with ‘God … keeping careful watch over us’ (Peter 1:5), we are not absolved from the obligation to take proper care of ourselves especially with today’s uncertainties. Our ‘Safety Management/Evacuation Plan’ is an attempt to provide a safe environment for all who gather to worship in our church.” (Capuchin Franciscan Father Michel Dalton, pastor of Holy Trinity Church introducing the plan to his parishioners.)
Holy Trinity Church in Kuliouou has completed a “Safety Management/Evacuation Plan” covering possible emergencies that could occur in our parish, from a tsunami to a medical emergency to an earthquake, from a bomb threat to an active shooter to even a nuclear attack. We will be prepared, as best as we can, to provide basic assistance until first responders arrive.
This plan was developed with the assistance of the Honolulu Fire Department Office of Community Relations and the Honolulu Police Department Office of Community Affairs. We are grateful for their site visit, recommendations and plan review.
In a time of horrendous violence and destruction of property and human life, our parish decided to prepare, to become proactive rather than wait and ignore potential tragedies. Earlier this year, the diocese issued a draft outline of an emergency plan for parishes to follow. According to Father Dalton, Holy Trinity had begun planning even before the diocese sent out its template.
The pastor tasked a group, headed by our ushers and including our maintenance team and other parishioners — some of whom are active or retired police officers, fire fighters and other first responders — to craft and edit this plan.
Representatives from the Honolulu Fire and Police Departments visited our campus and walked our location, offering recommendations. Our maintenance team provided a site map with photos identifying water, electric and gas shut-off controls, in the event they are needed by emergency personnel.
Usher Dennis Lock with two-way radio and emergency vest. (Photo courtesy of Holy Trinity Church)
We are fortunate to have a paid HPD police officer at weekend Masses, not only for traffic safety, but also to patrol the campus, to identify suspicious persons or situations and for the safety of our congregation.
Our parish’s location poses particular challenges. In the front of our parish property runs Kalanianaole Highway, a major traffic corridor in East Oahu. The rear of the property borders Paiko Lagoon, putting us in the tsunami evacuation zone.
We have initiated two-way radio contact with agreed upon codes, so that we can communicate with the officer in the event of any emergency. Bright red vests now identify our ushers for temporary leadership until first responders arrive.
We began with simple identification badges for our ushers, large enough to be read by parishioners in order to know who can render assistance. Our final document is 28 pages of instructions and illustrations of what to do in various emergencies, defining the roles and responsibilities of those involved.
Our pastor has been sharing our plan with the congregation each week, not to alarm but to foster awareness and provide information. Parishioners have been appreciative of this and have offered positive comments. A copy of our plan is available on our website at www.holytrinitychurchhi.org. This is a living document and will continually be reviewed and updated as situations change.
Our goal is to be knowledgeable and prepared. Our ushers, “the face of the church,” are critical in the implementation of this plan. We are grateful to them for stepping forward and being proactive.
Shepherding God’s people is multifaceted. Our “Safety Management/Evacuation Plan” is an example of what a parish in this day and age needs to do in an era when horrible events can happen anywhere, even at Holy Trinity Church.
