GOVERNMENT IMPACT AND PREPARATION

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GOVERNMENT IMPACTAND PREPARATION
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• The United States Federal Government takes
  actions that are in the best interests of the
  nation and are not likely to occur without
  government intervention.
• The Federal Government cannot be relied upon to
  take a major role in the event of an influenza
  pandemic to respond to the needs of the citizens.

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• BAD NEWS
• A flu pandemic will be widespread and move
  quickly across the globe
• Because there has been no previous exposure to
  the flu strain, a high percentage of people will
  get sick and a larger than normal percentage of
  people will die
• Our health care system will likely be
  overwhelmed, and there will be an unprecedented
  disruption in our workforce

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• GOOD NEWS
• The impacts of the flu pandemic are known and
  society will be affected in specific and
  foreseeable ways
• Planning for a flu pandemic can result in a
  well-managed community response and recovery

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• Flu Pandemic is a result of a disease often
  considered the domain of the health service
  system
• Local governments (County, towns/villages/city)
  will be expected to play a critical role as well
• Protect Employees
• Ensure Delivery of Essential Services
• Support Health Care Delivery System
• Assist Community Members
• Protect Local Economy

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PROTECT EMPLOYEES

• Revise workplace procedures to minimize exposure
  to the virus and spread of the disease
• Minimize group gatherings/meetings
• Consider work from home for certain positions
• Plan for high absenteeism make sure that
  employee overtime and leave policies are in
  place, as well as measures to hire temporary
  employees
• Identify ways to separate staff from public
• 4) Plan staff immunizations by priority

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ENSURE DELIVERY OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES

• Identify those existing services considered
  essential (police and fire protection, water
  delivery, sanitation/sewage disposal, emergency
  services, transportation network,
  telecommunications network, electrical power
  network, social services)
• 2) Identify those services not routinely provided
  that will likely be necessary (information
  center/phone bank, instituting quarantines or
  closures, instituting measures to ensure delivery
  of food, water and medical care, implement mass
  immunizations, burial of dead if mass fatalities
  occur

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ENSURE DELIVERY OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES (Continued)

• Plan for ways to ensure provision of essential
  services with minimal disruptions
• Identify key personnel/positions and assure that
  a redundancy of knowledge and experience exists
• Establish policies to be implemented during a
  pandemic (i.e. employee compensation, sick leave
  absences, flexible work location or hours, how to
  manage employees that have been exposed to the
  flu or suspected to be ill at worksite,
  sequestering key personnel in small teams to
  avoid exposure as long as possible
• Develop an immunization plan for limited supplies
  of vaccine
• Develop methods for overcoming shortfalls in
  facilities/supplies (stockpiling supplies,
  provide security and enforcement, control traffic
  and travel)
• Collaborate for delivery of services provided by
  others (telecommunications, electrical supply)
• Develop contingency plans for services not
  normally provided (mass immunization, mass
  fatality, information center)
• Create an Incident Command System for the flu
  pandemic plan based on the National Incident
  Management System

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SUPPORT HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM

• Assist health care officials through medical and
  non-medical means
• Coordinate and assist with mass immunizations
• Implement travel/traffic advisories
• Coordinate closure of places of public gathering
  to reduce the spread of the disease
• Provide enhanced security for critical facilities

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ASSIST COMMUNITY MEMBERS

1. Provide timely and accurate information before
   and during the event
2. Facilitate transportation of goods (food, water,
   medical supplies)
3. Provide non-medical care to those at home needing
   food, medical care, heat, etc.
4. Develop and implement a recovery plan (homeless
   services, food bank, counseling, orphan services,
   etc.)

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PROTECT LOCAL ECONOMY

1. Ensure provision of essential services
2. Provide enhanced security and enforcement
3. Provide timely and accurate information
4. Work with State and Federal agencies for recovery
   services and benefits

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SUMMARY

• Local governments can take action in a number of
  ways to manage the risks and impacts of a flu
  pandemic
• 1) Understand the threat
• 2) Assess the Risks
• 3) Prepare for the Event
• 4) Coordinated Response

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FINAL THOUGHT

• Responding to the challenge of a flu pandemic can
  best be accomplished through proper advance
  planning and through collaborative efforts of
  stakeholders in the communitybusinesses, health
  providers, institutions, utilities and citizens