A UU Congregation's Pandemic Flu Planning Overview
From: William Weir (weirwilliammsn.com)
Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2006 15:39:28 -0800 (PST)
The following second draft was written by Pete Raynor, FUS member and UMn 
School of Public Health professor, at my request in the light of discussion at 
a recent meeting of the ad hoc Task Force on Emergency Preparedness for Avian 
Flu
Bill Weir
Task Force convenor
First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis - Pandemic Flu Planning Overview - DRAFT 
2/24/06
   

  Phase 1:        Prepandemic  -- that is, Now

  Continue normal operations

  Establish contacts with local health department

  Plan with nearby churches and other UUA congregations

  Develop staffing plan in case services and meetings are cancelled

  Make plans with Child Garden

  Identify ways to continue services electronically

  Identify ways to help members quarantined in-home or with other needs if 
pandemic occurs

  Consult with Caring Circles regarding roles in the event of pandemic

  Develop guidance for when congregants should stay away from services when 
they present flu symptoms

  Develop plans for limiting costs and continuing collections in event of 
pandemic

  Develop comprehensive email list of FUS members and friends

  Inform congregation of pandemic flu plans

  Provide members with list of sources for authoritative information on 
pandemics

  Monitor local and national media

  Develop training materials for staff and members for pandemic flu

   

  Phase 2:        Circulating animal virus in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South 
Dakota, or North Dakota with potential human risk

  Continue normal operations

  Maintain contact with local health department

  Stay in contact with other churches about levels of preparedness

  Review plans

  Test software for continuing on-line services in the event of a pandemic

  Train leaders and members on electronic meetings

  Purchase small supply of disposable respiratory protection for staff in event 
of pandemic

  Develop list of members willing to participate in Caring Circles pandemic flu 
activities

  Continue financial planning in event of pandemic

  Increased local media monitoring

  Frequent updates at services and on website

  Initiate education of congregation on effective hygiene to prevent 
transmission of viruses

  Train staff and Caring Circles members for response to pandemic flu

   

  Phase 3:        Single or limited cases in humans in Minnesota, Wisconsin, 
Iowa, South Dakota, or North Dakota, with no human-to-human transmission

  Continue normal operations in concert with guidance from local and state 
officials

  Staff and Caring Circles address member anxieties regarding a potential 
pandemic

  Maintain contact with local health department

  Stay in contact with other churches about levels of preparedness

  Review plans

  Continue testing software for on-line services in the event of a pandemic

  Request that members and their children and other attendees stay away from 
services if they exhibit flu symptoms

  Develop rules for requesting attendees to leave services if they exhibit flu 
symptoms in the event of human-to-human transmission of potential pandemic virus

  Purchase disposable respiratory protection for staff and Caring Circles 
participants to serve members in case of pandemic

  Settle on financial plan in event of pandemic

  Frequent updates at services and on website

  Continue to educate congregation on effective hygiene to prevent transmission 
of viruses

   

  Phase 4:        Single or limited cases in humans in the United States, with 
low human-to-human transmission

  Continue services and RE program in concert with guidance from local and 
state officials

  Enforce rules requesting attendees to leave services if they exhibit flu 
symptoms\

  Reconsider necessity of face-to-face meetings; consider conference calls and 
electronic meetings instead

  Cancel meals in building

  Maintain contact with health department

  Maintain frequent contact with other churches about levels of preparedness

  Collaborate with other churches on joint activities

  Purchase supplies needed to serve members in case of pandemic

  Cutback expenses as needed

  Frequent updates at services and on website

   

  Phase 5:        Widespread cases anywhere, with high human-to-human 
transmission

  Close building

  Cancel services and meetings

  Initiate on-line services

  Actively communicate to members using comprehensive email list

  Actively communicate with members not on email list by telephone

  Use telephone to contact members who have not been heard from to determine if 
they need assistance from FUS

  Assist members requiring help with expanded Caring Circles

  Maintain frequent contact with health department

  Maintain contact and collaborate with other churches on joint activities 
serving members and community at large

  Purchase supplies needed to serve members 

  Cutback expenses as needed

  Ensure continuation of collections to support operations

  Frequent updates on website
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