The Water Runs Deep

Flood Safety for Churches

This article is based on the Sheepdog Church Security Academy's Safety Member Certification training course "Storms and Disasters v4" and the Church Security Guide article "Preparing Your Church for Natural Disasters" [1][2][3][4].

Well, the water runs deep, the river runs high,
And the rain keeps pouring down from the sky;
It seems like this might be the day
When everything will be washed away.

From the Bible –

Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as asleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up (Psalm 90:5).

Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers? (Jeremiah 46:7).

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it (Matthew 7:27).

"... neither shall there anymore be a flood to destroy the earth" (Genesis 9:11).

Introduction -

In Genesis 9:11, following Noah's Flood, God promised to never again cover the entire earth with a flood. There have been, and still are, floods, but not of that magnitude. However, in this country there have been floods devastating enough to cause many to wonder if they were a repeat of Noah's Flood (and caused believers to be thankful it wasn't). Among these are Tropical Depression Camille in Virginia in 1969 [5], the Great Midwest Flood of 1993 along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers [6], Tropical Storm Helene in North Carolina in 2024 [7], and the Guadalupe River Flood in the Hill Country of Texas in 2025 [8].

Many areas of the United States and Canada are subject to flooding at times, and many churches in these areas are in vulnerable locations - usually in river basins. Based on terrain and climate, they vary in likelihood of flooding and likely severity. These churches, therefore, need to consider flooding in their security assessments and planning.

On the Web (News and Resources) -

News:

Canonsburg Pennsylvania, July 30-31, 2016 - Flood waters damaged equipment and supplies in a church and a public high school in Canonsburg. In the church, donations were among the damaged items [9].

* Note: churches are not exempt from flood damage.

Westlake, Los Angeles, California, June 22, 2025 - A vehicle hit and broke off a fire hydrant, then left the scene. Water shooting up flooded both floors of a building housing a church [10].

* Note: Not all flooding is caused by the weather.

Oso, Washington, March 22, 2014 - A hillside with a history of landslides, gave way again. Lubricated by water-soaked soil, this landslide crossed a river and wiped out an entire neighborhood, killing 43 persons. The slide debris temporarily dammed the river flooding upstream ground [11][12][13].

* Landslides are often caused by flooding, and flooding can be caused by a landslide.

North and South Carolina, and Tennessee - Extensive flooding from Hurricane Helene flooded Episcopal churches in several mid-south states, including the Episcopal cathedral in Asheville, NC. Not only Episcopal churches were flooded, but also those of other denominations in the area. These congregations had to cope with this disaster. For instance, a Baptist Church in Vilas, NC continued to serve its community, even after landslides hit one of its buildings[14][15].

* Note: Multiple places of worship can suffer from a major flood.

Potomac, Maryland, July 2019 - Scotland AME Zion Church in Potomac flash flooding from a strong thunderstorm severely damaged Scotland AME Zion Church. Part of the historic structure was pushed off the foundation, the basement was flooded, water damaged the sanctuary, and mold took hold. The church has now built a new church next to the original structure and repaired the older building [16][17].

* Note: Sometimes rebuilding is the best option.

Elsberry, Missouri, July 27, 2025 - Beginning at 3 AM on a Sunday, the Methodist Church in Elsberry sheltered survivors of an area flood [18].

* Note: an undamaged church can shelter flood victims.

Resources:

Popular Mechanics, January 3, 2025 - In an article by Alex Rennie, this older, well-known tech magazine - "The 6 Best Flood Barriers for Homeowners and How to Use Them" - recommended six flood barriers for use by homeowners, including:

Sandbags,
Expandable walls, and
Self-inflating dams.

Mentioned in passing were other needs for dealing with a flood: First Aid kits, flashlights, emergency water supply [19].

* Note: Although Mr. Rennie recommended the flood barriers for homes, they can be applied to churches.

Flood Smart - FloodSmart.gov is a joint product of FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program. Their message is, "Flooding Happens Everywhere / Don't wait until it happens to you." Saying that flood insurance is available for "Almost anyone," this webpage outlines their advice with

HOW to be prepared?
WHAT is flood insurance?
WHY get flood insurance?
WHO is at risk?

This site includes links to get quotes on flood insurance. The quotes come from a selection of insurance companies for where the structure is located. [20].

The Voss Law Firm, P.C. - Voss Law Firm's article is "Flood Insurance Claims for Churches." After a brief description of the sources and damages of flooding, Voss covers the topic under three headings:

Flood Coverage Differs on Insurance Policies
Common Mistakes Church Policyholders Make After a Major Flooding Event
Churches Can Fight for Their Policyholder Rights After Flood-Related Losses

The last section is Related Links. The three links are:

Don't Accept the First Claim Denial for Your Church,
Mitigating Unique Church Losses After Severe Storm Damage,
Storm Damages Forever Change the Face of Beautiful Churches [21].

Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company - This pioneering church insurance company has flood advice for "churches and related ministries®":

Missions,
Camps,
Colleges,
Schools.

Their resources include checklists and FAQs. This page includes a list of sample documents:

Returning to Flood Damaged Areas.
Preventing a Flood of Devastation from Plumbing Leaks.
Minimize Water Damage with Resilient Building Materials.
Providing Temporary Shelter - Checklist.
Disaster Recovery Planning & Ministry Continuation - Checklist.
Fire Sprinkler Systems: Function and Inspection Essentials [22].

Flood Preparation and Response -

The two ways a church can deal with floods are preparing and responding.

Flood Preparation:

We cannot, as local organizations, prevent weather-caused floods, but we can prevent, mitigate, or minimize damage from a flood. However, flooding caused by systems in the building can be mostly prevented. Our preparations can also protect members of the congregation and the immediate community.

Flood-Threat Assessment,

The first step in preparation is a flood threat assessment for the community and for the church itself.

Communities most at risk for a flood are those in lower elevations near streams, lake fronts, and salt water shores.

What are the climate-related flood risks for the community?

The community's weather history for the past 100 years or more,
Bodies of water in or near the community,
The community's terrain,
Of special note are exceptional events which may target a community, such as remnants of Pacific Hurricane Priscilla bringing flash flooding to parts of Arizona, Nevada, and California that seldom see rain, let alone flooding.

The church's flood risk largely depends on where it is in the community. Factors to consider are:

The relative elevation (how high or low it is in the community),
How close it is to flood-prone waterways
Whether the church property is higher or lower than the street or road,
Is it at the foot of a hill?
The soil under the church.

Consider structural issues that may increase the church's vulnerability to flood damage:

Basement,
Porous foundation,
Low windows and doors,
Insufficient sealing of closed openings,
Exterior materials not water-resistant, etc.
Vulnerabilities of the church's electrical system.

Include landslide risks in the assessment, since they are usually associated with rain and flooding:

Is the church in the potential path of a landslide from an at-risk bluff or hill (as was the Steelhead Haven community near Oso [12, 13])?
If the church is on a hill, is it close to an edge or in a potential landslide zone?

Flood-Proofing the Church,

To a certain extent - barring a catastrophic flood - a church can be flood-proofed. This is easier to do when planning and constructing a new building, but many existing churches can be retro-fitted (to some extent) for flood-proofing. Some measures really mitigate damage, but can be worth the cost.

For New Construction -

Site selection should include flood-threat assessments.
Design for flood resistance.
Consult local codes and zoning. Coordinate plans with local agencies.

For Existing Structures -

Evaluate the feasibility of upgrading the church for flood protection and mitigation.

Conduct a flood-threat assessment.
Determine which measures are needed, especially those which are most critical.
Evaluate how these measures can be applied to the existing structure.

Calculate the costs of upgrade measures.
Budget the costs of a flood upgrade.

Schedule the upgrades, beginning with the most critical. This will spread the costs over time instead of trying to pay for it all-at-once.

Flood Insurance,

This is a key part of flood preparation. By the time damage is done, it's too late to get insurance for that incident. That is the message of the government webpage Flood Smart [20]. It has a link to flood insurance quotes. The first place to look should be your church's insurance provider. Then, if you want to search for lower rates, check FloodSmart.gov. Insurance companies usually have advice on how to prevent or mitigate flood damage. This is called "risk abatement" - reducing risk. The advice protects both the insurer and the insured,

Flood Response:

If there is a flood in your local area, how will the church respond?

Planning the Church's Response to a Flood,

Part of the planning is for proactive response. We cannot always wait to be warned of a flood to protect people and property.

Where is the church located in relation to various possible flood levels?

Review historic flooding in the area.
Is the risk of flooding increasing or decreasing?
Consider the potential risk of dam failures, etc., that may trigger flooding.

How will we protect the church?

What barriers can we use?
Maintain water lines, plumbing fixtures, sprinkler systems, etc. to reduce the risk of failure flooding.
What valuable items inside the church can we move to safety?
Are critical church records safe from the most likely floods?

How do we help members of the congregation?

Educate members on flood safety.
Inform them of the church's plans in case of flooding.
Have a system in place to warn congregational members of flooding.

How can we help others in the community?

Resources to share:

Food,
Hygiene supplies (soap, towels, wipes, etc.),
Clothing.

Shelter:

Sleeping places,
Eating,
Sanitation.

Comfort,
Spiritual guidance.

Responding to the Flood,

Warning! Pay attention to the weather and other factors that may cause flooding.

New sources - these carry stories of conditions that may cause flooding.
Weather channels and apps issue watches and warnings. These list

Likely areas of flooding,
Expected times of events,
Expected or likely levels of flooding.

Notification:

Notify church leadership;
Notify Safety Team;
Notify members of the congregation.

In some cases, such as with Helene, the best notification message is, "Evacuate."

Action:

Activate or put in place flood barriers (includes filling sand bags);
Move valuables to safety;
Cut off electric power (use main switch).

Flood Response Training:

Training and rehearsals prepare the Safety Team, church leadership, and the congregation to safely and effectively respond to a flood.

Sheepdog Church Security Training,

All members of the Church Safety Team should be trained and certified through the Safety Member Certification program, and include the standalone course "Storms and Disasters." This standalone course should be made available to all members of the church, especially ushers, greeters, and congregational leaders.

Reading Resources,

This includes the Church Security Guide article "Preparing Your Church for Natural Disasters."

A valuable outside reading resource I recommend is the Worship Facility article "Factors Affecting the Cost of your Worship Facility's Insurance: Severe Weather," written by Pam Rushing, an executive at Church Mutual Insurance Company. Written from an insurance provider's perspective, it reveals how risk abatement benefits the church as well as the insurer. The reality is that, with the increasing cost of weather-caused catastrophic damage, a church may be required to show how it has reduced the level of risk in order to even be eligible for flood insurance. The article also outlines some measures that may be taken [23].

Conclusion -

When a flood comes, will your church be ready?

References -

Kris Moloney, Safety Member Certification, Sheepdog Church Security [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/courses/safety-member-certification-v5-2025].
Kris Moloney, "Storms and Disasters v4," Sheepdog Church Security, 2018 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/courses/severe-weather-and-natural-disasters].
Kris Moloney, Church Security Guide, Sheepdog Church Security, 2023 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?c=church-security-guide], and [https://sheepdogchurchsecurity.net/church-security-guide].
Kris Moloney, "Preparing Your Church for Natural Disasters," June 9, 2023 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=preparing-your-church-for-natural-disasters], also 2018 [https://sheepdogchurchsecurity.net/severe-weather-preparedness].
Wikipedia, "Hurricane Camille" [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Camille].
Wikipedia, "Great Flood of 1993" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Flood_of_1993].
Wikipedia, "Hurricane Helene" [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Helene].
Nadine El-Bawab, Daniel Peck, Kyle Reiman, and Bonnie Mclean, "Texas flooding timeline: How rapidly rising waters killed dozens," ABC News, August 1, 2025 [https://abcnews.go.com/US/timeline-catastrophic-flooding-texas-claims-lives-27/story?id=123500139].
Anon, "Avella schools, Canonsburg church dealing with flood damage," Observer-Reporter, August 4, 2016 [https://cs.observer-reporter.com/news/2016/aug/04/avella-schools-canonsburg-church-dealing-with-flood-damage/].
Staff, "Hydrant toppled, church damaged by flooding in Westlake hit-and-run crash," KABC (ABC 7), June 22, 2025 [https://abc7.com/post/hydrant-toppled-church-damaged-westlake-hit-run-crash/16820025/].
"2014 Oso landslide," Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Oso_landslide].
Staff, "Ten years after the Oso landslide," Communications and Publishing, USGS, March 20, 2024 [https://www.usgs.gov/news/featured-story/ten-years-after-oso-landslide].
Vince Stricherz, "Oso disaster had its roots in earlier landslides," UW News, University of Washington, July 22, 2014 [https://www.washington.edu/news/2014/07/22/oso-disaster-had-its-roots-in-earlier-landslides/].
Lauren Anderson-Cripps, "Hurricane Batters Churches Across the Southeast," The Living Church, October 1, 2024 [https://livingchurch.org/news/news-episcopal-church/hurricane-batters-churches-across-the-southeast/].
Joseph Leonard and Jeremy Vernon, "Bigger than any of us expected: Vilas church withstands damage, continues to serve community after Helene," WFMY, October 11, 2024 [https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/weather/hurricane/helene/brushy-fork-baptist-church-in-vilas-west-of-boone-continues-to-serve-community-after-hurricane-helene/83-2d3662ce-f167-4580-8a28-d260d457c191].
Peggy McEwan/Potomac Almanac, "Church Damaged By Flood in Potomac," Potomac Almanac - Connection Newspapers, July 23, 2020 [https://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2020/jul/23/church-damaged-flood-potomac/].
Dr. E. Huggins, Pastor, "2nd Century Project," Scotland AME Zion Church, 2023 [https://scotlandamezion.org/].
Caroline Pettey, "Church in Elsberry serves as relief hub for flood victims," Fox 2 Now, July 27, 2025 [https://fox2now.com/video/church-in-elsberry-serves-as-relief-hub-for-flood-victims/10928227/].
Alex Rennie, "The 6 Best Flood Barriers for Homeowners and How to Use Them," Popular Mechanics, Updated: January 3, 2025 [https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/g45627690/best-flood-barriers/].
Staff, "Flooding Happens Everywhere: Don't wait until it happens to you," no date [https://www.floodsmart.gov/].
Staff, "Flood Insurance Claims for Churches," The Voss Law Firm, P.C., no date [https://www.vosslawfirm.com/practice_areas/church-flood-insurance-claim-lawyers.cfm].
Staff, "Search results for flood," Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, no date [https://www.brotherhoodmutual.com/search?q=flood].
Pam Rushing, "Factors Affecting the Cost of your Worship Facility's Insurance: Severe Weather," Worship Facility, May 23, 2024 [https://www.worshipfacility.com/2024/05/23/factors-affecting-the-cost-of-your-worship-facilitys-insurance-severe-weather/].