Security & Emergency Resources - Jewish Community Relations Council

CSI Home Page. Read the latest news from the Community Security Initiative and be introduced to CSI’s Regional Security Directors and get their contact information.

Security Grants Update. Find CSI’s tips, guidance, tutorials and videos for the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) and the NY State Securing Communities against Hate Crimes grant programs.

Prequalify in NY. NY nonprofits must “prequalify” before they submit for any grants administered by DHSES or DCJS. Find NYS tutorials along with CSI tips, with a special section focusing on how religious corporations (houses of worship and many schools) should reply.

Summer Camp Security Initiative. CSI expanded and now has a full-time dedicated security expert to help enhance security at summer camps in New York State to help develop Emergency Operations Plans; provide Active Threat Training and Counselor Training; serve as a liaison to local law enforcement; and provide Security Assessments for Grants.

CSI Trainings. CSI will provide a range of training opportunities for your staff, your leadership, and your constituencies.

Consultants’ Corner Archives. View past episodes of CSI’s popular Consultants Corner, focusing on topics such as Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) requirements, post-grant bidding, managing a security project, deep dives into security equipment and more.

NY DHSES Grant Page. The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services administers the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) for NY applicants and grantees. Find the Request for Applications (RFA), tutorials, grant administration materials and more at their website.

NY DCJS Grant Page. The NY State Securing Communities against Hate Crimes (SCAHC) grants are administered by the NY State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). DCJS is the final word on NY State submissions. Find the Request for Proposal and more documents at this site.

New programs

As you are considering how to best secure your organization while remaining welcoming, JCRC-NY and UJA-Federation are pleased to offer, with generous support from the Paul E. Singer Foundation and the Jewish Communal Fund, additional resources to keep you and your stakeholders safe and secure:

Security grants recipients bridge loan program. Through the Hebrew Free Loan Society (HFLS), UJA-Federation has created a bridge loan fund providing capital to federal and state grant recipients to make all necessary upgrades immediately; and get reimbursed from the state later. Available on a first come, first served basis for organizations that have received security grants, but cannot afford to pay for security enhancements upfront while awaiting reimbursement from the government. This program provides interest-free loans of up to $150,000 to organizations in any of New York City’s five boroughs, Westchester, or Long Island Read here for more information, or contact HFLS Director of Finance Daren Scott.

Report an Incident to the ADL – If you have experienced or witnessed an incident of antisemitism, extremism, bias, bigotry or hate, please report it to the ADL by visiting this link here: https://www.adl.org/reportincident#form

More resources

How to Get Permits for NYC Demonstrations
JCRC-NY’s Cybersecurity Resources
NYPD Paid Detail Unit information. NYPD allows its officers to perform off-duty, uniformed security work in NYC. Click on the link for details.
JCCA’s Security Readiness:A Framework for Security at Jewish Community Centers (JCCs), YM and YWHAs, and Camps. Don’t let the subtitle fool you. This is an excellent overview of best practice. It is extensive. It is dense. There are checklists in some sections, but it is primarily a deep thought piece that will raise important questions to assist you with your deliberations. It is made to make you think. Do not try to read it quickly. It outlines a four prong strategy: 1) Look like and be a hard target; 2) Use early-detection systems (cameras, alarms, alerts to staff and members, threat monitoring, etc.); 3) Implement appropriate response plans and systems; and 4) Provide safe havens or an escape strategy.
Security vendors. JCRC-NY has historically avoided recommending vendors. Simply put, we are not in a position to vet their services. This document discusses what to think about when choosing a security vendor and a few recommendations as a jumping-off point for your search.
JCRC-NY’s Security & Emergency Information Postings. Check the “Categories” in the left column to hone in on a particular subject.
Emergency Planning Manual: Disaster and Crisis Response Systems for Jewish Organizations, by JFNA, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and JCRC-NY

Functional Guidance

Are you prepared? 5 steps to make your facility safer and more secure
Sample Building Access Policies & Procedures (PDF)
Bomb Threat Guidance resources. See also Hoax threats can be scary, too, To evacuate or not to evacuate? That is the question., DHS’ Introduction to Bomb Threat Management, Manhattan bomb threat: lessons learned, Bomb threat training video.Updated.
Active Shooter Resources (DHS, FBI and NYPD) Updated.
Cybersecurity Resources
US Postal Inspection Service Guide to Mail Center Security (PDF)
Indicators of Terrorist Activity (PDF) – NYPD
Security Awareness (PDF) – By Paul DeMatties
Fire Safety from the NYC FDNY

Specific Guidance

JCRC-NY: Sample Building Access Policies & Procedures
DHS: Check It! – Bag Check Video. Designed to raise the level of awareness for front line facility employees by highlighting the indicators of suspicious activity, this video provides information to help employees properly search bags in order to protect venues and patrons across the country. The first four minutes are background.
JCRC-NY’s Power Outages 101 for Jewish Organizations (PDF)
JCRC-NY’s School and Classroom “Go-Kits” (PDF)
Security & Emergency Preparedness Committees
Communications Tips
FDNY’s Fire Safety for Jewish Observances (PDF, English/Yiddish)
FDNY’s Fire Safety for the Sukkot Celebration (PDF, English/Yiddish)

Vulnerability, Risk and Safety Assessments and Planning

FEMA: Reference Manual to Mitigate Potential Terrorist Attacks Against Buildings
FEMA, Emergency Operations Planning
DHS:
- Potential Indicators, Common Vulnerabilities, and Protective Measures: Religious Facilities (Updated)
- Hometown Security Report Series: Houses of Worship
- K-12 School Security: A Guide for Preventing and Protecting against Gun Violence (2^nd ed., 2018) provides preventive and protective measures to address the threat of gun violence in schools. The Guide is delivered in two parts: the first portion is a PDF with general security best practices and considerations in narrative format; while the second portion is a Microsoft Excel-based security survey. Together, these documents outline action-oriented security practices and options for consideration based on the results of the individual school’s responses to the survey. While the primary audience for the Guide is the K-12 community, institutions of higher education or pre-K schools may also benefit from the information presented.
NYPD: Engineering Security: Protective Design for High Risk Buildings
OSHA: Evacuation Plans and Procedures eTool. This expert system will help you to create a basic Emergency Action Plan. This basic plan likely will be adequate for needs of many small and medium-sized entities. Most small and medium-sized entities can create basic plans using this system in 10 to 15 minutes. Larger, more complex organizations will require more work.
Practical Information on Crisis Planning: A Guide for Schools and Communities. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Drug Free and Safe Schools. Taking action now can save lives, prevent injury, and minimize property damage in the moments of a crisis. The importance of reviewing and revising school and district plans cannot be underscored enough, and Practical Information on Crisis Planning: A Guide for Schools and Communities is designed to help you navigate this process. The Guide is intended to give schools, districts, and communities the critical concepts and components of good crisis planning, stimulate thinking about the crisis preparedness process, and provide examples of promising practices.
Emergency Preparedness Planning Guide for Childcare Centers. From the Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children (a collaborative program between the Illinois Department of Public Health and Loyola University Chicago). Lots of ideas to keep toddlers safe.
Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance Center, U.S. Department of Education
REMS: Conducting a Safety Audit
California STAS: Protective Measures for Enhanced Facilities Security
New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness Critical Infrastructure Protection Bureau: Facility Self-Assessment Tool (updated) and other tools here.