Emergency Preparedness and Response

Chesapeake's Pandemic Influenza Task Force

In preparation for a possible influenza pandemic, the Chesapeake Health Department’s major role for supporting the citizens of Chesapeake is prevention and education. Specifically, how to prevent the spread of influenza, what “social distancing” means and its importance for disease containment, caring for their loved ones in the home, and where they can find updated, accurate information when the pandemic arrives. In addition, the health department encourages businesses and every department in the city to develop Continuity of Operation Plans (COOPs) to ensure stability of operations during the length of the pandemic.

1. How to prevent the spread of influenza germs; if an influenza pandemic occurs, there will not be a vaccine available for some time, so the only way to slow infection rates is for the community to know how to avoid spreading the germs.
2. The community needs to know what “social distancing” means and its importance for disease containment.
3. The community needs to be educated about caring for their loved ones at home if all possible to avoid congestion of treatment facilities for those who truly need advanced care.
4. The community needs to know where they can find updated, accurate information when the pandemic arrives.

Much of this is accomplished through the Chesapeake’s Pandemic Influenza Task Force. The following organizations are represented in this Task Force:
American Red Cross; Chesapeake General Hospital; City Departments; CERT, City Volunteer Coordinator; Community Services, Human Resources,; Human Services; Office of Emergency Management; Police Department, Public Communications, Public Schools; Home Health Care agencies; Health Department Director, Planner, and Epidemiologist; as well as local businesses.

Chesapeake would also like to encourage other local individuals/entities to join our Task Force, such as a Medical Practice Managers, Acute Care Facilities, Funeral Directors, and any other business representatives are all welcome to help make Chesapeake a more disaster resistant community.

For more information, please contact Robert Rendin, Emergency Planner, at
757-382-8654 or robert.rendin@vdh.virginia.gov

Chesapeake’s Pandemic Influenza Task Force Initiatives:

1. Participated in outreach initiative- Spring Festival 2006 (gave away t-shirts, hand sanitizers and Z-cards)
2. General Pan Flu educational brochures and logo bags have been purchased
3. Development and purchase of Pan Flu Care Giving Kits and home care instructional brochure
4. Participated in Pan Flu Regional Summit
5. Pan Flu Table-Top Exercise (TTX) involving the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
6. Several presentations to local businesses from the Director and Emergency Planner

The Task Force is committed to:

1. Development of a physician sub-committee to help facilitate the coordination of local docs’ health services during the pandemic
2. Development of physician staffed medical “nodes” in the community
3. LHD will encourage local businesses will have developed their own Continuity of Operation Plans (COOP)
4. LHD will support businesses in educating their own employees about individual and group preparedness as well as the importance of disease prevention.

Pandemic Influenza Task Force Membership
The following organizations are represented:

• American Red Cross
• Chesapeake General Hospital (8)
• City Departments
• CERT
• City Volunteer Coordinator
• Community Services
• Human Resources
• Human Services
• Office of Emergency Management
• Police Department
• Public Communications
• Public Schools

Home Health Care

• ComfortCare Home Health & Hospice Services
• Gentiva (home health)
• Heartland Home Health Care and Hospice

Health Department

• Director
• Planner
• Epidemiologist
• MRC

Local Businesses

• ILC
• Jo-Kell, Inc.
• Lockheed Martin
• SEVTC

Pan flu vs. Seasonal flu- http://pandemicflu.gov/season_or_pandemic.html

Pan Flu plans (HHS, State, Chesapeake)

HHS> http://www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/

State> http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/EPR/Planning/pandemicinfluenzaplan.htm

Chesapeake

Frequently asked questions regarding Pandemic Influenza-

http://www.vdh.state.va.us/PandemicFlu/index.asp
http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/PandemicFlu/FAQs.asp

Additional Links

General preparedness info- purchase pan flu brochures http://www.channing-bete.com/

Resources for Individuals and Families- http://www.pandemicflu.gov/planguide/checklist.html

Resources for Care givers- link to ARC brochure PDF

Resources for Businesses- http://www.pandemicflu.gov/professional/business/index.html

http://www.mercerhr.com/referencecontent.jhtml/dynamic/idContent/1208470#

Resources for Schools and Daycares- http://www.pandemicflu.gov/professional/school/index.html

http://www.vdh.state.va.us/PandemicFlu/FluToolkit/index.htm

Resources for Healthcare Professionals- http://www.pandemicflu.gov/professional/hospital/index.html

Posters to download- http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/PandemicFlu/HealthTips.asp

Cough/sneeze etiquette video (CDC)- http://www.coughsafe.com/index.html

CDC web address http://www.pandemicflu.gov

Seasonal Influenza Activity- http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/Epidemiology/Surveillance/Influenza/

Avian Influenza (WHO) - http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/

Pandemic Flu (CDC) - http://www.pandemicflu.gov/