Encouraging Families to Plan for a Pandemic Sustaining Families in a Pandemic Break-Out Session Surviving the Pandemic Forum October 12, 2006 Alliant Energy.

Encouraging Families to Plan for a Pandemic

Sustaining Families in a Pandemic Break-Out Session

Surviving the Pandemic Forum

October 12, 2006Alliant Energy Center, Exibition Hall

Madison, WI

Presenter:

J. McLellanPopulation Protection PlannerDane County Emergency Management608 / [email protected]

How can How can organizations organizations

help their help their employees employees

sustain their sustain their families in a families in a pandemic?pandemic?

Katrina LessonKatrina Lesson

Dedicated employees with strong conviction to duty left their posts b/c the need for family well-being out-weighed the value of their employmentHow do employers reduce the possibility of employees facing this decision ?

This presentation will cover:

I. Employer actions in the work place

II. Steps to producing a plan III. Planning elements

I. Steps employers can I. Steps employers can take to assist take to assist employees:employees:1. Clarify known policies and

procedures to employees2. Address the “unknown”3. Define expectations of employees4. Support employee preparations

1. Clarify known factors

Organization policies regarding : Health care coverage Sick leave Work from home policies Etc.

Update / Create policies to be applicable in a pandemicEducate employees on your organization’s pandemic plan

2. Address unknown factors

“How do I protect myself and my family ?” “What do I do if one of my family members becomes ill ?” “Where can I turn for help ?”“How will a pandemic affect MY workplace?”“What should a pandemic mean to me ?”

3. Define Employer Expectations

Define your organization’s core functionsSpell out your intent to support these core functions through Policies Communications Responsibilities Expected abilities

Ensure employees understand their relation to organization core functions

4. Support employee preparations

Educate – Provide locations for accurate, current pandemic infoEncourage employee networks to support planning and deliver accurate informationEncourage family / home pandemic planning efforts !!!

STAY CURRENT!!

Pandemics are one of few hazards that strike human capital.Planning for pandemics will require continuous, although not difficult, monitoring and updating of plans.Employee planning efforts can be useful beyond a pandemic

II. Steps to produce a II. Steps to produce a planplan

1. Capability Assessment2. Vulnerability Assessment3. Define what needs / vulnerabilities can be

addressed through existing capabilities4. Define areas where planning and

mitigation efforts can reduce needs / vulnerabilities

5. Produce a plan to direct actions for families to meet their needs

6. TEST THE PLAN!!!

1. Capability Assessment Identify core family needs What do families need to survive, regardless of a

pandemic ? Ex. - Health maintenance, family contact, school,

etc.

What family needs can be met during a pandemic with little or no change to current routine ? Shopping patterns, increase personal medication

inventory, etc.

What resources are currently available to meet family needs ? Emergency Kit, medications, canned goods,

contact information, etc.

2. Vulnerability Assessment

How will a pandemic affect what you need and what you do ?What resources will need to be acquired during a pandemic ?Where are the vulnerabilities of these needs / core functions in a pandemic ? Grocery stores, health maintenance

supplies, public interaction situations, communication

Use solid, basic assumptions to paint situation

3. Mitigation

How can I reduce these vulnerabilities ?What preventive steps can I take ?

4. Planning Action Steps

What you will doApplying preventive measures

5. Produce a family plan

Goal(s)ObjectivesProceduresResources

6. TEST THE PLAN !!!

III. Elements of a plan:III. Elements of a plan:

Goal(s)ObjectivesProceduresResources

Goals

Goals define the Purpose Function Overall outcome

“This plan shall provide guidance for the McLellan family to operate and survive during a pandemic.”

Objectives

Objectives define where efforts should be directed to achieve the goal(s)Examples: Reduce public exposure to all family

members Conserving resources Ensuring the supply of needed /

required resources in times of shortage or other difficult conditions

Objectives (cont.)Objectives should be SMART!!Specific – To whom are the objectives directed ?Measurable – What type of actions should be taken to fulfill the objective ?Attainable – Can they be fulfilled ? How will you know ?Realistic – How much must be accomplished to fulfill the objective ? Achievement!!Timely – How large / small a time frame is available to accomplish the objective ?

Procedures

These illustrate benchmarks and guidelines for actionsExamples –

1. No more than weekly trips to the grocery store

2. Shop during off peak hours3. Participate in communal /

neighborhood shopping4. Maintaining a two week supply of

food and medications

Resources

List currently available resourcesList resources that can/should be stockpiled before a pandemic strikesList resources that will need to be acquired during a pandemic

Other advice ?Other advice ?

Make a friend before you need a friend!!Your neighbors can be your first / last / best line of OFFENSE!!

Questions ?J. McLellanPopulation Protection PlannerDane County Emergency Management608 / [email protected]