COOP Planning for an

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COOP Planning for an Influenza Pandemic
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A pandemic is a global disease outbreak.   It
occurs when an influenza virus emerges for which
people have little immunity and for which there
is no vaccine.   It spreads easily
person-to-person, causes serious illness and can
sweep around the world in very short time. U.S.
General Services Administration
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The difference between planning for a general
disaster and for an influenza pandemic is

• General Disaster
• limited geographically
• limited in duration
• clearly visible destruction requiring repair
• local economic impact
• Pandemic Influenza
• geographically widespread
• occurs in 6 to 8 week waves for over a year
• extended, severely reduced workforce
• (may cause widespread economic effect)
• no visible property damage

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The diseases effects combined with mitigation
strategies may have the following impacts

• Rapid, unpredictable disease spread no shifting
  resources to safe areas
• Dramatic worker absenteeism operations scaled to
  most essential
• Movement restrictions disrupts supply chains and
  municipal services
• Social distancing requirements restricts
  operations
• Business close for prolonged periods ups demand
  for social welfare
• Lost income, scarce materials and workers hurts
  ability to respond/recover
• Reduced availability of first responders ups
  security risks and social disruption
• Local economic and social challenges affects
  other regions and nation

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A severe pandemic influenza presents a
tremendous challenge as it may affect the lives
of millions of Americans, cause significant
numbers of illnesses and fatalities, and
substantially disrupt our economic and social
stability. It is imperative for government
officials and business leaders to work together
now to develop effective pandemic-related
business continuity plans and to implement
successful preparedness and protective
strategies.
Michael Chertoff, Secretary U.S. Department of
Homeland Security
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All departments and agencies will be responsible
for developing pandemic plans that

• provide for the health and safety of their
• employees
• ensure that the department or agency will be able
  to maintain its essential functions and services
  in the face of significant and sustained
  absenteeism
• provide clear direction on the manner in which
  the department will execute its responsibilities
  in support of the Federal response to a pandemic
  as described in this Plan and
• communicate pandemic preparedness and response
  guidance to all stakeholders of the department or
  agency.

White House Pandemic Influenza Implementation
Plan, May 2006
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Pandemic preparedness demands a shift in
continuity planning

• The next 6 slides introduce
• Assumptions specific to a pandemic
• Considerations for continuing operations during a
  pandemic

This information was obtained from Pandemic
Influenza Preparedness, Response, And Recovery
Guide For Critical Infrastructure And Key
Resources (September 19, 2006) Found online at
http//www.pandemicflu.gov
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Workforce Absenteeism Workforce absenteeism
may reach 40 in a pandemic wave. The flu will
occur randomly among employees. Absenteeism will
increase when schools close.

• How will organizations
• Maintain essential operations
• if 40 of workers are absent?
• Staff essential positions over
• multiple pandemic waves?
• Increase reserve staff for essential positions?
• Address family and childcare support for
  essential workers?

9
Geographic Dispersion and Rapid Spread With
human-to-human transmission, dispersion will be
rapid and global. It will affect communities of
all sizes/compositions. Shifting resources from
affected to safe areas may not be possible.

• How will organizations
• Ensure services to customers/partners?
• Keep needed resources at the worksite?
• Maintain operations when resources are not
  available?
• Cross-train nonessential personnel for essential
  functions?

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Time Duration and Waves A pandemic wave
last 6 to 8 weeks. The compounding effects of
the disease and the mitigation strategies for
each wave may be applied for over a year.

• How will organizations
• Continue essential functions for a 6 to 8 week
  wave?
• Recover from the 1st wave, while preparing for
  the next waves?
• Define breaking points when essential functions
  begin to fail?

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Mobility and Travel Once human-to-human
outbreaks appear, national and international
transit restrictions will grow dramatically.

• How will organizations
• Ensure operations despite significant
• restrictions in moving staff/materials?
• Ensure continuity in geographically
• dispersed operations ?
• Ensure essential partners and suppliers are
  prepared for a pandemic?

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Healthcare Delivery // Public Health Once a
pandemic strain is identified, it will take 6 to
9 months before a vaccine will be widely
available. (CDC) Without vaccines and
antivirals, effective workplace protection
strategies will be necessary.

• How will organizations
• Ensure worker healthcare support?
• Know when workers have
• contracted the virus?
• Protect workers from those
• who are contagious but not yet exhibiting
  symptoms?

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Economic Disruption // Security Risks and Social
Stability A dramatic, extended reduction in
spending may cause an unprecedented national
economic disruption. Shortages of basic
commodities and municipal infrastructure may
cause local security challenges for businesses
and communities.

• How will organizations
• Ensure economic viability at each pandemic phase?
  
• Respond when businesses
• around them are failing?
• Ensure security of their workplace, workers and
  customers?

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DSHS COOP Planning for Pandemic Influenza

• 2007
• Commissioner briefs gt30 agencies on continuity
  planning for pan flu
• Statewide workgroup recommends policies to
  address issues that cut across state agencies
• Pan Flu Annex to COOP Plan completed

• 2008
• Conduct Tabletop Pan Flu COOP Exercises
• Operationalize Pan Flu Annex

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COOP Planning Elements that Address an Influenza
Pandemic

• Essential Functions
• Unlike the 30 day requirement for All-Hazards
  Planning, essential functions may be performed
  for up to 60-days, several times a year as
  pandemic waves begin and end (This may result
  in a broader base of functions.)

• Procedures
• The Pandemic Influenza Federal Response Stages
  will serve as activation criteria or triggers
  for COOP actions.
• Procedures must reflect the nature of pandemic
  waves.

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COOP Planning Elements that Address an Influenza
Pandemic

• Staffing Essential Functions
• Pre-identify staff at least 3 deep and
  cross-train
• Outline duties, required skills, education and
  experience to assist locating staff from other
  areas
• Consider ancillary workforce (e.g. contractors
  and retirees)
• Prepare to staff positions at a higher risk of
  exposure

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COOP Planning Elements that Address an Influenza
Pandemic

• Human Capital Plans
• Protect Workforce by Addressing the following
• Protocols to assess individuals who might
  contagious and to prevent them from being at
  worksite to protect onsite staff
• Compensation for telecommuting shift work or
  flex hours
• Pay and medical benefits of staff on emergency
  leave status
• Stress, grief and other concerns affecting staff
  health and work performance

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COOP Planning Elements that Address an Influenza
Pandemic

• Alternative Work Arrangements
• To limit or prevent worksite transmission of the
  virus
• Enhanced Hygienic Work Practices enhanced hand
• washing practices
• Personal Protective Equipment face protection
  for staff in close contact with other
  staff/public
• Engineering Interventions sneeze barriers for
  public and
• upgraded ventilation system/air filters
  minimize air transfer
• Social Distancing Increase distance between
  staff to 6 feet staggered work hours flex time
  and telework

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COOP Planning Elements that Address an Influenza
Pandemic

• Vital Resources
• Needed to continue critical functions in a
  pandemic
• Develop comprehensive list - determine how to
  obtain and manage
• List available resources - develop plans to
  secure them
• Identify contractors, suppliers and other
  resources you must interact with to continue
  operations
• Develop relationships with back-up
  contractors/suppliers/resources
• Initiate pre-solicited, signed and standing
  agreements with suppliers, contractors and other
  third parties

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COOP Planning Elements that Address an Influenza
Pandemic

• Testing, Training and Exercise Program
• Personal and Family Preparedness
• Absenteeism will be affected by staff
  awareness of and preparation for the challenges
  of a pandemic
• Cross-Training Program
• High absenteeism will require at least 3
  staff able to perform the duties of each
  identified essential position
• Training for Alternate Work Arrangements
• Staff must become familiar implementing
  social distancing techniques prior to a pandemic

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Pandemic Influenza COOP Planning Resources
Pandemic Flu http//www.pandemicflu.gov/
Homeland Security - National Strategy for
Pandemic Influenza Implementation
Plan http//www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/nspi_imple
mentation.pdf FEMA COOP Template for Pandemic
Influenza http//www.fema.gov/pdf/government/coop
/influenza_coop_annex.pdf Pandemic Influenza
Preparedness, Response, And Recovery Guide For
Critical Infrastructure And Key
Resources http//www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/pdf/cikr
pandemicinfluenzaguide.pdf DSHS Pandemic
Influenza Preparedness http//www.dshs.state.tx.us
/idcu/disease/influenza/pandemic/default.asp