Communication Readiness

Community Emergency PreparednessRegional Pandemic Planning Summits • 2006

Bird Flu ≠ Human Pandemic.• Bird flu is mostly a disease of BIRDS.• Pandemic flu would make lots of PEOPLE sick• Pandemic flu would spread among people worldwide.• Bird flu does NOT do that.

CONCERN:Bird flu virus could mutate to spread easily from person to person.

Communication is essential.• People need information to prepare for/

respond to emergencies

• Information to support good decisions

• Information must be accurate, consistent, credible, useful – PHASED

What’s happening?What is Vermont doing?What should I do?

To communicate well in an emergency:

• Show that you care

• Demonstrate competence/expertise

• Tell what you know and don’t know

• Explain process to find answers

To communicate well in an emergency:• Don’t over reassure• Acknowledge uncertainty• Acknowledge fear• Let people know what they can do• Ask more of people

Assume the best of people.DO NOT assume that people will “panic”!

Prepare to Answer ?s:• What is happening?• Are my family and I safe?• What should I do?• What can I do to protect myself and my family?• What is Vermont doing?• What can we expect?• Why did this happen?• Why wasn’t this prevented?• What else can go wrong?• What does this information mean?

Pandemic Phase 6Pandemic Period

Increased and sustained transmission in humans

Pandemic Phase 5Pandemic Alert Period

Larger localized clusters, better adapted to humans,not highly transmissible

Pandemic Phase 4Pandemic Alert Period

Human spread, small localized clusters,not adapted for rapid spread

Pandemic Phase 3Pandemic Alert Period

Humans infected, no spread or low risk of spread between humans

Phase 2Interpandemic Period

Still in animals, but substantial risk to humans

Phase 1Interpandemic Period

Viruses circulating in animals, low risk to humans

Pandemic Phases

5/2006

Organizing Health PIO Response • Lead PIO• Deputy PIO• Media Manager• Media Monitor• Partner/Stakeholder Liaison• Info Line Liaison• Webmaster• Emergency Writers• Spokespersons• Health Marketing• Assistants

Health Operations Center • State Emergency Operations Center

Organizing State PIO Response • JIC • Governor’s Office • Emergency Management• Health• Agriculture• Human Services• Transportation• Natural Resources• Red Cross• Colleges• National Guard• Public Safety• Hospitals/VAHHS

Getting news & information out –• TV, radio, print, on-line news

Local news first priority

• WebsitesPandemicFlu.govHealthVermont.gov

Getting news & information out –• Health Alert Network (HAN)

town officials, first responders, hospitals, health care

• Public Info Lines

• Community Leaders - Community Networks

What you can do now

• Share information to keep healthy• cover your cough• wash hands often and well• stay home if you’re sick• avoid close contact with sick people• ask for a mask

• HealthVermont.gov

What you can do now Prepare yourself and your family for any emergency:

• family emergency health plan• food, water, meds, supplies• volunteer to help

What your organization can doPlan for the impact of pandemic

• checklists: local government business school district (K-12) child care/pre-school college/university medical office/clinic EMS hospital home health service long-term care & residential community organization

For the most current information:

• HealthVermont.gov

• PandemicFlu.gov