A-2007-084 - Laserfiche WebLink

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FY 2006 HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM - DECEMBER 2, 2005 constrained by geographic boundaries. The next pandemic is likely to come in waves, each lasting months, and pass through communities of all size across the Nation and world. While a pandemic will not damage power lines, banks or computer networks, it will ultimately threaten all critical infrastructure by removing essential personnel from the workplace for weeks or months. This makes a pandemic a unique circumstance necessitating a strategy that extends well beyond health and medical boundaries, to include the sustainment of critical infrastructure, private- sector activities, the movement of goods and services across the Nation and the globe, and economic and security considerations. The uncertainties associated with influenza viruses require that our Strategy be versatile, to ensure that we are prepared for any virus with pandemic potential, as well as the annual burden of influenza that we know we will face. The HHS Plan, "Public Health Guidance on Pandemic Influenza for State and Local Partners," Section 2 provides that: An effective local response will depend on pre - established partnerships and collaborative planning by public health officials, hospital administrators, and community leaders, who have considered a range of best -case and worst -case scenarios. It will require flexibility and real -time decision - making, guided by epidemiologic information on the pandemic virus. It will also depend on a well - informed public that understands the dangers of pandemic influenza and accepts the potential need for control measures like self - isolation and quarantine that prevent disease spread by reducing social contact. The public must also understand and accept the rationale in prioritizing the use of limited supplies of antiviral drugs and initial stocks of vaccines. The MMRS purpose, partnerships, guidance, and capabilities achieved by MMRS jurisdictions provide a proven and established foundation for this collaborative planning. Accordingly, as an overarching requirement for MMRS jurisdictions is the revision and updating of Continuity of Operations for emergency medical, mental health, and public health functions, and their supporting infrastructure, throughout their Operational Area. Key aspects of this activity include: • Reviewing mutual aid agreements to ensure that they include the sharing of facilities, personnel, equipment and supplies, to include provisions for closing facilities when their key resources are decremented to the point of non - viability and making available their able personnel and remaining supplies and equipment to facilities which are viable. • Priority dispensing of influenza vaccine and anti -viral medication to first responders and first receivers • Providing enhanced public safety protection of mass casualty response facilities and resources • Establishing legal authorities incorporating Altered Standards of Care PREPAREDNESS DIRECTORATE'S OFFICE OF GRANTS AND TRAINING 100