1. All-Hazards Planning with Special Consideration to Pandemic Influenza
“Keep the Courts Open”
All-Hazards Planning with Special
Consideration to Pandemic Influenza

2. Chief Justices of the Florida Supreme Court, 9/11 to Present
Leadership
We must deal with crises in a way that protects the health and safety of everyone inside our facilities
We must “keep the courts open” to ensure justice for the people
Justice Lewis
Justice Wells
Justice Pariente
Justice Anstead
Chief Justices of the Florida Supreme Court, 9/11 to Present

3. Operationalizing Leadership’s Goals
Staffing
Emergency coordinating officers (ECO) and public information officers (PIO)
Connecting
Court administration, clerks, emergency management, law enforcement, bar associations, fire and rescue, health officials, etc.
Coordinating
Policy (Court Emergency Management Groups)
Operations (Court Emergency Management Teams)
All-Hazards Planning
Administrative and Emergency Procedures
Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP)
Technology Disaster Recovery/Continuity of Business Plans

4. Examples of the Impact of Hurricane Ivan
M.C. Blanchard Courthouse in Pensacola Florida

5. Examples of the Impact of Hurricane Ivan
M.C. Blanchard Courthouse in Pensacola Florida

6. The Primary Alternate Facility
The Pensacola Civic Center

7. Courtrooms at the Alternate Facility
Courtroom with Jury Box at the Alternate Facility

8. Mission Essential Functions at the Alternate Facility
Justice Barbara J. Pariente visits Pensacola
to Review the Response to Hurricane Ivan

9. Long-Term Alternate Facilities
Judicial Trailer Park

10. Pandemic Preparedness
Strategy Endorsed March 2006
Reassert Strategic Goals
Define Tactical Objectives
Flowchart a Response
List Seven Specific Planning Tasks and Subtasks
Initial Pandemic Plans Submitted November 2006
Work Continues on the Tough Pandemic Preparedness Issues
Copy available at
click on “Emergency Preparedness”

11. The Tough Issues Legal Issues Personnel Issues
Unsettled law, public health related cases, bench books, etc.
Personnel Issues
Leave, payroll, employee assistance, workers comp, etc.
Technology (no or limited face-to-face contact)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Employee Education and Family Preparedness (Two week supply?)
Jury Management
Testing and Exercising Plans

12. Additional Information:
Questions or Comments
FYI, some questions I hope you don’t ask:
Has every Florida court fully developed their plans?
Has implementation been like making sausage?
How have the Florida courts addressed NIMS compliance?
How have the Florida courts addressed respiratory protection programs and other PPE policy issues?
How do courts access DHS funds?
Which, if any, ESF do the courts fit into?
How do courts ensure they can protect their records?
What are your experiences with satellite phones?
Are the courts really that important in an emergency response?
Contact Information:
Greg Cowan or
Additional Information:
(Click on “Emergency Preparedness”)