Business/Organization Planning

Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Planning Guide
Marquette County Health Department
August 2006

“Pandemics are global in nature, but their impact is local. When the next pandemic strikes, as it surely will, it is likely to touch the lives of every individual, family and community. Our task is to make sure that when this happens, we will be a Nation prepared.”
            - Mike Leavitt, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The world is preparing for a catastrophic pandemic similar to the one that occurred in 1918 with the hopes that when a pandemic strikes it will be of moderate severity like those in 1957 and 1968. We hope this guide will help you prepare a complete plan in a reasonable amount of time, but remember the best plan means nothing if you do not exercise that plan prior to having to put into effect. One of the greatest risks during a pandemic is panic and its possible outcomes. Keeping people informed and demonstrating that plans are in place and being exercised will help remind people that they can work through this episode of their lives and provide some sense of control.

How to use the Pandemic Influenza Business/ Organization Planning Guide:

• Read the Planning Assumption for the Implementation Plan page. (Information from the United States Implementation Plan for the Pandemic Influenza.) 

• Review the Impact Scenario page.

• Read the Pandemic Influenza Continuation of Operation Plan document and complete the referenced templates as you go.

• Review the Graduated Trigger/Response Listing which has several suggested items to consider in your business’s/organization’s response to the stated triggers. The responses were taken from the government checklists and other sources. Some are not pertinent to your business/organization and you will certainly think of other responses to add to the list.

Note: The triggers and the associated responses vary during WHO Pandemic Phase 6 depending on where human cases of pandemic influenza are in the world. When a pandemic virus emerges and human cases are identified the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and other health organizations will be monitoring the ability of this virus to cause disease and the severity of the disease caused. Recommendations in regards to the trigger for upgraded responses such as school and business closure will have to be determined when the actual pandemic virus emerges. Suggestions as to what the trigger(s) might be are stated.

• Complete the Pandemic Influenza Responsibility Assignment Sheets 
  
  The response list from the Trigger/Response table can be separated into categories and assigned to different people in your organization. Each person given a responsibility list should be provided detailed information as to what is expected of him/her. You may want to designate a title in reference to the person’s roll in the pandemic influenza preparedness plan. Assign alternates for each position whenever possible as the person designated may become incapacitated. All those listed for a pandemic role must be involved in the planning and training exercises as the expectations for all persons identified for these duties are the same. See example provided.
  
  The packet of letters/notices/postings is to be used and adapted for your business/organization so they are ready to go when the time comes.
  
  Questions: Contact Marsha Lucas, Pandemic Preparedness Coordinator: 906-315-2601 or mlucas@mqtcty.org. 
   

Some of the following documents are printable Adobe pdf documents.  You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on you computer to view and/or print them.  If you do not already have this program installed, it is available free of charge at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Planning Assumptions Impact Scenario Continuity of Operations Introduction to Trigger/Response and Responsibility Assignment Sheets	Posters Stop Germs Glove and Mask Usage Cover Your Cough - Red Cover Your Cough - Green Bookmarks

Marsha Lucas - Pandemic Influenza Coordinator Marquette County Health Department 184 US Highway 41 East Negaunee, Michigan  49866 (906) 315-2601 (phone) (906) 475-9312 (fax)