Emergency Plan for Mosque & Community Premises

How to use this template: Fill in every section that applies to your premises. Replace all blank lines (_______________) and bracketed placeholders ([fillable]) with your own information. Where tables are provided, add or remove rows as needed. Once completed, print copies for key holders and store a digital copy securely. Review the entire plan at least once a year and after any incident.

1. Premises Overview

Building Description

Operating Hours

People on Site

Sleeping Accommodation

Adjacent Premises

2. Roles & Responsibilities

Every role below must have both a primary and a deputy identified. If the primary is unavailable, the deputy takes over automatically — there should be no confusion or delay in deciding who is in charge.

Note: Add additional rows for larger premises. Each floor or distinct zone should have its own Fire Warden. First Aid cover should be proportionate to the number of people typically on site.

3. Evacuation Plan

When to Evacuate

Evacuate the building when:

• There is a fire or fire alarm activation
• There is a gas leak (smell of gas, hissing from pipework)
• There is structural damage (collapse, severe flooding, explosion damage)
• A threat is inside the building and the safest option is to move people out and away

IMPORTANT — Terrorist-related incidents: Do NOT use the fire alarm for terrorist-related evacuations. People will follow their fire drill habits — they will walk calmly to the nearest fire exit and gather at the assembly point. If the threat is near the assembly point or the exit routes, this puts people in danger.

Instead, use verbal commands or the PA system with clear, situation-specific instructions. For example: "Do not use the front exit. Leave by the rear door immediately and move away from the building."

Evacuation Routes

Fire Exit Locations

Assembly Points

Evacuation Initiation

Pre-Evacuation Checklist

Check these regularly — do not wait for an emergency to discover a problem:

• All fire exits checked and unobstructed (including from outside)
• Fire exit signage in place and visible
• Emergency lighting tested and working
• Shoe storage racks and bags are not blocking exits or corridors
• Corridors and stairwells clear of stored items
• Lifts are NOT used during evacuation — signage in place
• Evacuation routes are known to all regular volunteers and staff
• Assembly point locations are known to all regular volunteers and staff

4. Invacuation Plan (Moving to Safety Inside)

What is invacuation? Invacuation means moving people to a designated safe area within the building when the threat is outside. It is used when leaving the building could move people towards danger — for example, if there is a hostile individual or an ongoing incident in the street outside.

Designated Safe Areas

Security note: Do not publicise the specific location of your safe areas on notice boards, websites, or social media. This information should be shared only with staff, volunteers, and those who need to know.

Routes to Safe Areas

Invacuation Initiation

Key Points

• Plan the quickest routes from every part of the building to the safe area
• Once occupied, secure the safe area — lock or barricade doors from inside
• Keep people away from windows and external walls
• Maintain silence if the threat is a hostile intruder
• Designate someone to monitor the situation and communicate with emergency services
• Have a plan for transitioning from invacuation to evacuation if circumstances change

5. Lockdown Plan (Securing the Building)

What is lockdown? Lockdown means securing doors and barriers to prevent a hostile person from entering. The primary objectives are to:

1. Delay attackers from gaining access
2. Reduce immediate threats to people inside
3. Prevent people from inadvertently moving into danger

Doors and Entry Points

Lockdown Initiation

What Staff and Volunteers Should Do During Lockdown

• Lock all external doors and accessible windows immediately
• Close internal fire doors
• Move people away from windows, doors, and open areas
• Turn off lights where possible (to reduce visibility from outside)
• Silence mobile phones (turn off ringtones and vibrations)
• Stay low and out of sight
• Do not open doors to anyone unless confirmed safe by the Incident Lead or police
• Call 999 if not already done — use a whispered voice if necessary
• Wait for the all-clear from police or the Incident Lead

Fire during lockdown: If a fire breaks out during a lockdown, the Incident Lead must decide whether to switch to evacuation. Lockdown does not override fire safety. The decision will depend on which threat poses the greater immediate risk — but fire in the building will almost always require evacuation.

6. Communication Procedures

WhatsApp Alert Group

Set up a dedicated WhatsApp group for emergency alerts. All key holders, staff, and volunteers should be members.

Group name: _______________

Three-Tier Alert System

Use these exact messages to avoid confusion. Do not add commentary to the alert message itself — follow up with details in a separate message.

Calling 999 — Template Script

When calling 999, stay calm and give information clearly. Use this script as a guide:

"This is [your name] calling from [mosque name] at [full address including postcode].

We have [describe the situation — e.g. a fire on the first floor / a suspicious package in the car park / an individual with a weapon outside the building].

There are approximately [number] people on the premises, including [number] children.

[Describe any injuries — e.g. 'Two people have minor injuries' or 'No injuries so far.']

We have [evacuated / invacuated / locked down] the building.

My phone number is [your number]."

Stay on the line. Follow the operator's instructions.

Internal Communication

Monthly Test

Send a GREEN ALERT test message via the WhatsApp group on the [fillable: e.g. first Monday] of each month. This confirms that all members still receive messages and that the group is active.

Monthly test day: _______________

7. Assembly Points

Primary Assembly Point

Secondary Assembly Point

(Used if the primary point is unsafe or compromised)

Assembly Point Requirements

Ensure both assembly points meet these criteria:

• Away from vehicle routes and car parks
• A safe distance from the building (falling debris, smoke, blast radius)
• Accessible to people with disabilities
• Known to all staff, volunteers, and regular congregation members
• Not in front of emergency service access routes
• Clearly identifiable (consider a sign or landmark reference)

Roll Call Procedure

Tip for large congregations: A full roll call may not be practical during busy prayers. Focus on accounting for staff, volunteers, children (madrassah), and anyone known to need assistance. Zone-based headcounts by Fire Wardens can provide a quick estimate.

8. Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs)

What are PEEPs? PEEPs are individual plans for anyone who would need assistance evacuating the building — for example, elderly congregants who attend regularly, wheelchair users, or those with mobility, sensory, or cognitive impairments. A PEEP ensures that specific help is planned in advance, not improvised during an emergency.

Notes:

• Review PEEPs whenever a person's needs change or when building layout changes.
• For one-off visitors with mobility needs, have a generic PEEP (sometimes called a General Emergency Evacuation Plan) that staff can apply on the spot — for example, "assign the nearest volunteer to assist, use the ground-floor exit."
• Ensure evacuation chairs (if provided) are regularly checked and that designated helpers have been trained to use them.

9. Emergency Contacts

Keep a printed copy of this contact list at the main entrance, in the Incident Lead's office, and at each manned reception point.

10. Review & Testing Schedule

This plan must be reviewed at least once a year and after any incident (whether real or a near miss). Regular testing ensures that people know what to do when it matters.

After every drill or real incident, record what went well and what needs to improve. Update this plan accordingly.

11. Version History

Appendix: Building Plan / Floor Layout

Attach or sketch a simple floor plan for each level of the building. Mark the following:

• Fire exits (all)
• Fire alarm call points
• Fire extinguisher locations
• First aid kit locations
• Assembly point directions
• Designated safe areas (for invacuation)
• Utility shut-off points (gas, electric, water)

[Attach floor plans here or reference a separate document]

This template is a companion to the MCB Physical Security Guide for Mosque & Community Premises (v1.4, March 2026).

Published by the Muslim Council of Britain — Security Workstream.

For guidance on completing this template, see Section 1 (Emergency Response & Crisis Management) of the MCB Physical Security Guide.