Pandemic Flu & General Disaster Preparedness Developing a Continuity of Operations Plan Amanda Guizar Arkansas Department of Health Preparedness Branch

Please enjoy the show… https://www.fema.gov/media- library/assets/videos/94388

Continuity Phases Four Phases - Readiness and Preparedness Activation and Relocation Continuity Operations Reconstitution

Orders of Sucession Ensure orders of succession are three deep and account for the expected rate of absenteeism Geographical dispersion is encouraged.

Delegations of Authority During the climax of a pan flu event, absenteeism could be significant. Identify roles of authority needing delegation. Establish a three deep chain to cover the operations over a long period of time.

Core Essential Functions How will your organization sustain during an event of this nature? What are your essential functions? What functions can be suspended until normalcy returns? If you have mutual aid agreements, how will they be affected or impacted? What is your plan B if you are unable to get your routine deliveries and supplies?

Communications Needs Develop/Review Communications Plan. Consider the need for additional equipment to perform essential functions. Extra tech support. Exercise your comms plan!! Make it routine.

Special Considerations With a general disaster event… Interruption of routine services Utilization of alternate facility Securing damaged facility Patient movement

Personnel Policies and Procedures Identify what your current procedures are and how they can be used and/or modified during a General Disaster Event. Employee notification Transport of patients Notification to loved ones Access to patients records and orders

What is Pandemic Influenza? An influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of a new influenza A virus that is very different from current and recently circulating human seasonal influenza A viruses. Pandemics happen when new (novel) influenza A viruses emerge which are able to infect people easily and spread from person to person in an efficient and sustained way. Pan flu is not the typical ordinary flu. This type of flu spreads globally and is a very serious illness that humans have little natural immunity. It is easily spread from person to person.

How can COOP differ from a general disaster to a flu pandemic? Limited geographically Limited in duration Destruction is visible Economic impacts are local Pandemic Influenza Widespread Occurs in waves Extended or severely reduced workforce No visible property damage With general disasters, the response and recovery process are

Special Considerations With a pandemic Influenza event… Absenteeism Interruption of routine services Long Term recovery Capabilities overwhelmed Protection of your most valuable asset

Personnel Policies and Procedures Identify what your current procedures are and how they can be used and/or modified during a Pan Flu Event. Leave to support ill family members Assistance for those without leave Returning to work Travel to infected areas Sending ill employees home PPE

Keeping your Workplace Protected from Pan Flu Social distancing Close non critical common areas Personnel notification Information and Education Best hygienic practices Worksite cleaning procedures PPE and infection control measures

Devolution Consider a full or partial devolution if your organization becomes engulfed or overwhelmed by the event and unable to perform essential functions. Have guidance detailed for those in authority. Devolve or shift operations to another area or virtual if possible.

Train and Exercise Your plan is only as effective as your ability to test it. Test your systems outside of the network. If telework is an option, have employees routinely utilize this method. Update your call tree or designated point of contacts. How long can you operate on this plan? Once you’ve trained and exercised, learn from your gaps and shortfalls.

Planning Tools FEMA has guidance documents and Continuity Templates available: https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1396880633531-35405f61d483668155492a7cccd1600b/Pandemic_Influenza_Template.pdf Flu.gov also provides an abundance of information with regard to planning and continuity operations: www.flu.gov Arkansas Department of Health provides many topics on Influenza within our state including statistics: http://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/influenza CDC provides additional resources on pandemic influenza planning: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/planning-preparedness/national-strategy-planning.html

Thank you for your time and attention. Questions? Thank you for your time and attention. Amanda.Guizar@Arkansas.gov 479-747-8650