Pandemic Accord: Influenza Recovery / Reconstitution Tabletop Exercise and...

December 1-4, 2014: Pandemic Influenza Recovery / Reconstitution Tabletop Exercise and Pandemic Accord Hotwash (to also include feedback on Wave 1 and Wave 2) - The same session will be repeated over 4 consecutive days to accommodate the number of participants. The event layout is similar to the 2013 Pandemic Accord Exercise, dial-in/WebEx capabilities will be made available to those that are unable to attend live. (Please attend only 1 date)

• 8:30am EST Registration
• 9:00am EST StartEx / Hotwash 2:30 pm / 4:00pm EST Endex
• Location: 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY Conference Room A/B or Conference Call 800-320-4330; pin 528585#

PANDEMIC ACCORD: 2013-14 Pandemic Influenza Continuity Exercise Series

The Federal Executive Boards in New York City and Northern New Jersey in partnership with FEMA Region II, The Department of Health and Human Services Region II, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) and the Clearing House Association are sponsoring a two year series of pandemic influenza continuity exercises - tabletop exercise 2013 (complete), full scale exercise 2014 - to increase readiness for a pandemic event amongst Federal Executive Departments and Agencies, US Court, State, tribal, local jurisdictional and private sector continuity.

Pandemic influenza is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza virus appears or “emerges” in the human population causing serious illness, as it spreads from person to person worldwide. History teaches us that the impact of a pandemic can be far-reaching. The 1918 “Spanish Flu” influenza killed approximately 30,000 people in NYC, 500,000 in the United States and as many as 50 -100 million worldwide. Furthermore, it leads to widespread social disruption and economic loss.

Pandemic influenza is unique in that, unlike many other catastrophic events, it will not directly affect physical infrastructure. While a pandemic will not damage power lines, banks, or computer networks, it will ultimately threaten all critical infrastructures by its impact on an organization’s human resources causing a loss essential personnel from the workplace for weeks or months - National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Implementation Plan (May 2006).

Economists, epidemiologists and other experts predict that the effects of a modern-day pandemic will be seen in every industry and government agency at local, regional, national and international levels. Typically a pandemic influenza will come in “waves” each lasting 6-8 weeks with several months between each wave. The CDC estimates that between 35%-40% of the United States population could be affected by pandemic influenza and the economic impact could range between $71.3 and $166.5 billion (2006 estimates).

The exercise objectives are to mitigate vulnerabilities during a pandemic influenza outbreak; to identify gaps or weaknesses in pandemic planning or in organization pandemic influenza continuity plans, policies, & procedures; and encourage public and private organizations to jointly plan for, and test, their pandemic influenza plans.

PHASES OF EXERCISE:

2013

• Stage 1: Table Top Pandemic Influenza Exercise 2013 – Completed over 4 day period November 2013
• Stage 2: After Action Report – Distributed January 2014

2014

• Stage 3: Pandemic Influenza Exercise 2014 to include Full-scale and Tabletop exercise components
• Stage 4: After Action Report
• Stage 5: Corrective Action Report via NYU Partnership (Proposed)

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA EXERCISE OVERVIEW:

• Who: NY/NJ Federal Executive Boards membership and private sector
• What: 3 part Pandemic Influenza Exercise – Each component exercise will be a standalone event so agencies/businesses may participate in 1, 2 or all 3 of the parts of the exercise.
• Pandemic Influenza Wave 1 Full Scale Exercise - November 13, 2014
• Pandemic Influenza Wave 2 Full Scale Exercise - November 20, 2014
• Pandemic Influenza Recovery / Reconstitution Tabletop Exercise (repeated on 4 separate dates, please attend only 1 date of the tabletop) - December 1-4, 2014
• Purpose: To foster a partnership amongst Federal/private sector; increase continuity readiness under pandemic influenza conditions; and identify gaps and areas for improvement
• Scope: New York City Metropolitan Area

Schedule/Location:

• September 10, 2014 - Pandemic Accord Mid-Planning Conference and MESL Workshop – Mid Planning meeting for agency and firm lead controllers to discuss Pandemic Exercise and Review Master Scenario List for exercises. Training will be held to teach Lead Controllers how to write agency and firm specific injects. (The previously scheduled September 9th date is cancelled) **Updated Event** Deliverables: Exercises; lessons learned; and after-action reports
• 10am-12noon EST, Location: 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY Conference Room A/B or Conference Call 800-320-4330; pin 528585#
• September 23, 2014 Webinar: Federal and Local Government Pandemic Planning
• October 9, 2014 Webinar: Power/Communications/Internet Connectivity in a Pandemic Event
• November 6-7, 2014 (Please plan to attend both days) **Updated Event**
  - Final planning meeting for agency and firm lead controllers and evaluators to Review Master Scenario List for exercises and receive controller / evaluator training. The Final Planning meeting is an HSEEP requirement when conducting full scale exercises. (November 6).
  - Controller / Evaluator training: Training will be provided to exercise Controllers and Evaluators to help manage full scale exercise play (November 7)
• 9am-12noon EST, Location: 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY Conference Room A/B or Conference Call 800-320-4330; pin 528585#
• November 13, 2014: Pandemic Influenza Wave 1 Full Scale Exercise
• 9:00am EST StartEx / 3:30pm EST Endex
• Location: Your Agency / Firm
• November 20, 2014: Pandemic Influenza Wave 2 Full Scale Exercise
• 9:00am EST StartEx / 3:30pm EST Endex
• Location: Your Agency / Firm
• December 1-4, 2014: Pandemic Influenza Recovery / Reconstitution Tabletop Exercise and Pandemic Accord Hotwash (to also include feedback on Wave 1 and Wave 2) - The same session will be repeated over 4 consecutive days to accommodate the number of participants. The event layout is similar to the 2013 Pandemic Accord Exercise, dial-in/WebEx capabilities will be made available to those that are unable to attend live. (Please attend only 1 date)
• 8:30am EST Registration
• 9:00am EST StartEx / Hotwash 2:30 pm / 4:00pm EST Endex
• Location: 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY Conference Room A/B or Conference Call 800-320-4330; pin 528585#

ASSUMPTIONS:

• Up to 40-50 percent of government and private sector staff may be absent for periods of about 2 weeks at the height of a pandemic wave with lower levels of staff absent for a few weeks on either side of the peak.
• While a pandemic will not damage power lines, banks, or computer networks, it will ultimately threaten all critical infrastructures by its impact on an organization’s human resources causing a loss of essential personnel from the workplace for weeks or months.
• Vaccine will most likely not be available in the early stages of a pandemic.

GOALS & OBJECTIVES:

1. Foster partnerships between public and private sector

• Review/analyze continuity communications with stakeholders, partner agencies and/or customers
• Encourage collaboration of best practices and strategies amongst various organizations

B. Test an organization’s ability to plan for and react to a pandemic influenza outbreak

• Provide tools and resources for creation of pandemic influenza plan if not developed
• Test alert and notification for local, state, and national levels
• Identify and prioritize essential functions
• Identify supply chain challenges

C. Evaluate and validate Continuity of Operations planning and processes for a pandemic

• Social distancing
• Activation of telework policy
• Succession plan
• Pandemic influenza plan review
• HR policies regarding absenteeism

D. Explore the effects of randomized absenteeism in the workplace

• Model based on US census data will be developed to replicate absenteeism in the workplace
• Participants will determine the businesses services that are impacted and how will they continue operations
• Some departments may not be affected, while others areas may have their entire staff unavailable

E. Explore the Psychological aspects and Business Reconstitution of post-wave recovery

• Coping with the deaths of multiple co-workers/loved ones
• Replacing staff
• Replacing personal protective equipment in preparation for a potential next wave
• Create a sense of community with the use of employee assistance programs

F. Identify special considerations and materials for protecting the health and safety of employees during a pandemic outbreak

• Social distancing materials
• Community interventions
• Syndromic Surveillance
• www.cdc.gov
• www.Flu.gov

KEY PLAYERS/ PARTNERS:

Federal Executive Board New York City

FEMA Region II

DHHS Region II

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Clearing House Association

NYU (tentative)

Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association(SIFMA)

Federal Executive Board Northern New Jersey

RSVP - please register for the following events via the links below:

• Pandemic Accord Mid-Planning Conference and MESL Workshop

Wednesday September 10, 2014
http://pandemicaccord-mid2.eventbrite.com

• Pandemic Accord Final Planning Meeting and Controllers and Evaluator Training
  Thursday, November 6-7, 2014
  http://pandemicaccord-final1.eventbrite.com

• Pandemic Accord: Influenza Wave 1 Full Scale Exercise:
  Thursday, November 13, 2014

http://pandemicaccordwave1.eventbrite.com

• Pandemic Accord: Influenza Wave II Full Scale Exercise:
  Thursday, November 20, 2014

http://pandemicaccordwave2.eventbrite.com

• Pandemic Accord: Influenza Recovery / Reconstitution Tabletop Exercise and Hotwash (please attend only 1 date)
  
  Monday, December 1, 2014
  http://pandemicttx-hotwash1.eventbrite.com
  
  Tuesday, December 2, 2014
  http://pandemicttx-hotwash2.eventbrite.com
  
  Wednesday, December 3, 2014
  http://pandemicttx-hotwash3.eventbrite.com
  
  Thursday, December 4, 2014
  http://pandemicttx-hotwash4.eventbrite.com

If you have any questions regarding Pandemic Accord, please contact:

Russell Fox, Continuity Manager

FEMA Region II
212-680-8504 Office
917-318-4859 Cell
Russell.fox@fema.dhs.gov

Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of the Pandemic Accord continuity exercise series!