Keep the Courts Open

1
Keep the Courts Open

• A Model for Collaborative
• Court Emergency Preparedness

2
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

Chief Justices of the Florida Supreme Court, 9/11
to Present
3
Staff Dedicated to the Initiative

• Emergency Coordinating Officer (ECO)
• Public Information Officer (PIO)
• A branch-wide ECO and PIO
• Alternates for each ECO and PIO

4
Practical Tools

• The Process for Responding to Emergencies
• Administrative and Emergency Procedures
• Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)
• The Court Emergency Management Group (CEMG)
• The CEMG represents a policy group
• The Eight Fill in the Blank Templates
• The Court Emergency Management Team (CEMT)
• The CEMT represents an operational team

5
Process under the Administrative and Emergency
Procedures
Emergency Pending or Occurs
A copy of this PowerPoint is available at
www.flcourts.org (Click on Emergency
Preparedness)
6
Process under the Continuity of Operations Plan
(COOP)
COOP
A copy of this PowerPoint is available at
www.flcourts.org (Click on Emergency
Preparedness)
7
Lessons Learned/Reinforced

• Leadership must make emergency preparedness a
  priority
  
• Leadership must establish clear strategic goals
• Leadership must dedicate staff to the initiative
• Staff must get the courts tapped into the
  existing emergency management network
  
• Staff must coordinate with all relevant
  stakeholders
  
• Staff should develop practical planning tools to
  assist in the development of policies and plans
  
• Staff must implement redundant means of
  communication
  
• Staff must address information technology and
  records issues

8
Keep the Courts Open

• Appendix Preparing for a Pandemic

9
Planning Efforts related to Pandemic Influenza

• Florida State Courts Strategy for Pandemic
  Influenza
  
• Endorsed March 29, 2006
• Statewide training event held on June 26, 2006 in
  Orlando
  
• Purchase of emergency supplies
• Coordination with the Florida Department of
  Health and other stakeholders is ongoing

A copy of the Strategy is available at
www.flcourts.org (Click on Emergency
Preparedness)
10
Relationship Between the Elements of the Strategy
for Pandemic Influenza
Improved Capacity to Achieve the Strategic Goals
Improved Capacity to Achieve the Tactical Objecti
ves
Improved Capacity to Implement the Process
Complete the Seven Planning Tasks
A copy of the Strategy is available at
www.flcourts.org (Click on Emergency
Preparedness)
11
Contact Information
Contact Information Greg Cowan 850-922-5460 or 8
50-509-1578 cowang_at_flcourts.org
Additional Information www.flcourts.org (Click o
n Emergency Preparedness)