Ongoing programs
- Security Infrastructure Loans. Both the federal and New York State security grant programs require grantees to purchase and install their equipment before they are reimbursed. Click on the link to learn about bridge loans via HFLS’s Security Infrastructure Loan Program.
CSI “One-pagers”
… more in progress
CSI Guard Resources
- Guarding Services for Nonprofits: How to Structure Smarter, Outcomes-based Contracts
- CSI-NY’ Security Post Orders Considerations For Nonprofit Facilities.docx
- CSI-NY’s SAMPLE Guard Services RFP – Jan ’26.docx
… more in progress
NYC-specific information
- How to Get Permits for NYC Demonstrations
- NYPD Paid Detail Unit information. NYPD allows its officers to perform off-duty, uniformed security work in NYC. Click on the link for details.
In-depth guidance
- 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.
- Emergency Planning Manual: Disaster and Crisis Response Systems for Jewish Organizations, 2003, by JFNA, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and JCRC-NY
CSI-NY’s Cybersecurity Resources
Functional/Specific 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.
- 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
- CSI-NY: Sample Building Access Policies & Procedures
- 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)
Source Materials for Vulnerability, Risk and Safety Assessments and Planning
- 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 (2nd 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.
Synagogue-specific Security & Emergency Planning
- JCRC-NY: Sample Building Access Policies & Procedures
- JCRC-NY: Security & Emergency Preparedness Committees
- NJOHP: Role of Security Coordinators
- DHS: Potential Indicators, Common Vulnerabilities, and Protective Measures: Religious Facilities
- FEMA: Guide for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Houses of Worship
- National Counter Terrorism Security Office, United Kingdom: Counter Terrorism Protective Security Advice for Places of Worship