Agility Recovery Blog

Homeland Security Expert Weighs In On Pandemic Disaster Planning

As we all had just become immune to the daily news reports highlighting the global economic climate, a new headline burst upon the scene earlier this year causing yet another ripple in an already stunned and battle weary business community. At the start of the summer, The “Swine Flu”, or H1N1 virus was declared a true pandemic, and with that, forced businesses everywhere to take a close look at their level of disaster preparedness.

Having lived through the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in Toronto and experiencing the disruption first-hand, I was all too familiar with the imposing threat. During SARS I witnessed businesses and hospitals quarantine sections of buildings to contain possibly infected individuals. A cough or a sneeze on a subway car would cause fellow passengers to hold their breath or quickly shuffle further upwind. It was not uncommon to see people going about their daily business with their identities half hidden by the face masks that filtered their breathing air. As I thought I had seen the last of such an Orwellian vision, I now flash forward six years to yet another.

After all the media hype during the spring H1N1 outbreak, and relatively little impact, many people have become complacent and in some cases even cynical. The perceived threat level has somewhat diminished since the announcement earlier this year, but it does not mean that the risk is negligible. Pandemic fatigue is a real issue. It is important to recognize the potential impact it may have and how to prepare your family, your community and your business.

Headlines relating to H1N1 are beginning to resurface so this begs the question, is MY business prepared? Unfortunately, there are many businesses whose only contingency plan consists of the following rule: “If you’re sick, don’t come to work”. Unfortunately, this is a rather narrow minded solution that would cripple a business once all its critical resources were sequestered at home.

The good news is that while most disasters are difficult to plan for due to the wide variety of possible interruptions, a flu pandemic has specific elements that can be prepared for, even if you haven’t had an extended period to plan. Below are just a few points to help your business stay prepared:

1. Educate our employees about H1N1 symptoms, basic infection control and the possible business consequences.
2. Encourage employees to get H1N1 flu vaccinations when they become available.
3. Create, review and/or update your plan
4. Ensure your plan includes a way for employees to effectively work from home and that communication remains open within all departments of your business.

This list obviously just skims the surface. It is however a good starting point.

For more detailed information about H1N1 and how to better prepare your business register for Agility’s free webinar Pandemic Planning - How to Prepare Your Business for the Upcoming Flu Season, this coming Wednesday (9/16). Our expert speaker, Colonel William Lang (Ret.), M.D., is the Former Associate Chief Medical Officer for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is among the world’s foremost experts in medical contingency planning and public health response to biological incidents, including both pandemic and bio-terrorism events. You will not want to miss this!

In support of National Preparedness Month Agility Recovery Solutions is hosting free webinars throughout the month of September and we have an outstanding lineup of nationally recognized speakers. Visit our site to learn more.

- Jonathan Prasad
Agility Recovery Solutions
Agility Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity Solutions
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