We're spending a lot of time working on, reviewing and exercising plans related to pandemic flu planning.

Here are the Top Ten Planning Tips for H1N1 flu...

Before we start this entry...let's say "There is NO need for panic"........yet. But like with any area of emergency planning, we need to plan for and prepare for and be ready to respond to something big and unexpected.

We always preach the "all-hazard" approach to EM planning and H1N1 is no different. BUT, For planners, there are both physical and cyber security challenges to think about.

Planners in the private sector must start thinking about a game plan for who would do what and where if the government decided to restrict our movements to contain an outbreak. Companies, both large and small must have a solid business continuity plan in place that takes pandemic flu into account. And that plan should be ready to execute should the federal government direct state and local jurisdictions to enforce community containment plans.

 

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School has started in most of the US. Summer vacations are over and seasonally cooler fall weather is coming. Flu season is also coming and many clients have asked us about specific planning guidence.

The short answer to many concerns is that the planning process is already in place. We tell our clients to review their ability to respond to potential disruptions to their operations and protect the well-being of employees. This holds true for other disasters as wll a a flu pandemic event.

Some of the things to consider are:

• Treat a pandemic as a truly catastrophic event like an earthquake or hurricane.
• Establish pandemic planning committees, supported by real budgets as with other hazard planning.
• Identify and prioritize the "essential functions" of your organization and prepare to protect and support those.
• Estimate and plan for post-pandemic changes, including shifts in demand patterns, in the availability and morale of staff, and in infrastructure.
• Be aware of changes and impact to your clients, vendors and contractors. Make sure your vendors have plans in place to support your organization. If not, make alternate plans or modify services. 

Flu pandemic planning is an exercise in business continuity planning. Review and revise your existing plans and include "flu pandemic" in your Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA) and in yoour Business Impact Analysis (BIA).

 

This is a good time to remember that we're entering what is expected to be a significant influenza season. There are a number of things that one can do to prepare for a flu pandemic.

We advise all our corporate and government clients to facilitate frequent hand-washing with access to hand sanitizers in the workplace. My personal favorite remains Purell.

 Also educate your workplace to "cover your cough (or sneeze)" and stay home when you are sick.

 The CDC has a number of checklists and resources for local governments, schools, health care professionals, businesses, community organizations and families.  Be sure to plan and review your plans. Visit the planning resources website at the CDC here.

Also the ntb group  Homeland Security Alert Center features a complete section on H1N1 flu. Visit our resource center at:  http://www.ntb-group.com/alertcenter.php