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

2. Please enjoy the show…
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3. Continuity Phases Four Phases - Readiness and Preparedness
Activation and Relocation
Continuity Operations
Reconstitution

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

5. 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.

6. 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?

7. 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.

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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. Planning Tools
FEMA has guidance documents and Continuity Templates available:
Flu.gov also provides an abundance of information with regard to planning and continuity operations:
Arkansas Department of Health provides many topics on Influenza within our state including statistics:
CDC provides additional resources on pandemic influenza planning:

18. Thank you for your time and attention.
Questions?
Thank you for your time and attention.