Pandemic Planning and Response for State IT: Where's My Staff?

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Pandemic Planning and Response for State IT: Where's My Staff?
NASCIO: Representing Chief Information Officers of the States

                                                                                                                   NASCIO Staff Contact:
                                                                                                                   Drew Leatherby
                                                                                                                   Issues Coordinator
                                                                                                                   dleatherby@AMRms.com

      Pandemic Planning and Response for State
      IT: Where’s My Staff?

      Without the flow of electronic informa-               due to a pandemic scare – are you pre-
      tion, government comes to a standstill.               pared to act? CIOs have an obligation to
      When a state’s data systems and commu-                ensure that IT services continue in the
      nication networks are disrupted, the prob-            event of a pandemic outbreak, and
      lem can be serious and the impact far-                planning for such a scenario has
      reaching. The consequences can be much                become essential. It’s not a matter of if a
      more than an inconvenience. Serious dis-              pandemic is going to strike, it’s just a mat-
      ruptions to a state’s IT systems can lead to          ter of when, and how far-reaching the
      public distrust, chaos, fear and potential            problem will be. The good news is that
      loss of life. Traditionally, IT disruptions are       there are simple steps that state CIOs
      planned for based on anticipated disasters            can follow to prepare for such a disaster.
      both natural and manmade that can phys-
      ically damage facilities and equipment.
      However, we live in a time that holds                 Pandemic Planning 101
      the potential for a pandemic outbreak
      in your city, state or possibly the nation.           The primary focus of this brief is on how
      What would you do as state chief infor-               to maintain critical operations during a
      mation officer (CIO) if one day your                  pandemic outbreak. Pandemics are unique
      staff did not come to the office because              in that they affect an organization’s work-
      of a pandemic outbreak?                               force as opposed to its physical infrastruc-
                                                            ture, and therefore require a radically differ-        NASCIO represents state chief infor-
                                                                                                                   mation officers and information
      Physical disasters that shut down mission             ent approach for recovery efforts. Planning            technology executives and man-
      critical applications are typically covered           in response to a pandemic event should                 agers from state governments across
      under a state’s disaster recovery and busi-                                                                  the United States. For more informa-
                                                            include an incident management compo-                  tion visit www.nascio.org.
      ness continuity (DR/BC) plan. Under these             nent involving an incident command
      plans, physical assets can be replaced, and           response and identifying those key mem-                Copyright © 2007 NASCIO
                                                                                                                   All rights reserved
      information protected, using various back-            bers and players necessary for a compre-
      up and business resumption practices.                 hensive solution to the plans that are                 201 East Main Street, Suite 1405
                                                                                                                   Lexington, KY 40507
      However, if one day you find your offices             developed.The impact of a pandemic on                  Phone: (859) 514-9153
      empty – your systems running unattended               the state IT organization goes beyond just             Fax: (859) 514-9166
                                                                                                                   Email: NASCIO@AMRms.com

Pandemic Planning and Response for State IT: Where’s My Staff?                                                                                        1
NASCIO: Representing Chief Information Officers of the States

                                  the people, process and technology                    pandemic may be completely different
                                  aspects. On a larger scale, the CIO must              from that for a physical disaster. Unlike
                                  understand the impact to the logistics of             other DR/BC situations, in the case of a
                                  suppliers outside of the state IT organiza-           pandemic, the critical staff list should
                                  tion who may also be experiencing a high              include for example, those operating the
                                  rate of employee absenteeism.                         facility’s chiller rooms and other general
                                                                                        maintenance functions. Finally, prepare for
                                  Experts agree that a pandemic event will              making decisions in an environment of
                                  likely occur in the next ten years and                uncertainty. During a crisis the CIO may
                                  undoubtedly will result in a high rate of             not have all the information necessary,
                                  employee absenteeism. Most states’ IT                 but will be required to make immediate
                                  organizations are simply not prepared to              decisions.
                                  address the infrastructure and procedural
                                  issues that will emerge as a result.
                                  Whether caused by pan-flu, plague,                    Communication
                                  smallpox, anthrax, West Nile Virus, TB or
                                  other epidemic, state IT leaders need to              Educate state IT staff on basic pre-
                                  make sure their DR/BC plans are designed              paredness for themselves and their
                                  to deal with such a contingency.                      families – Prepare and distribute pan-
                                  Consciousness is being raised on several              demic preparation resources to every
                                  fronts, but state IT – for the most part –            member of the IT staff, with information
                                  hasn’t taken the necessary steps to imple-            on what individual employees and their
                                  ment and test plans and processes to                  families can do to avoid or minimize expo-
                                  cope with such an outbreak.                           sure. Work with state public health agen-
                                                                                        cies for basic survival information, and
                                                                                        build a packet of information tailored to
                                  The Role of the State CIO in                          state IT staff.
                                  Pandemic Preparedness and
                                  Response                                              Educate state IT staff, lawmakers,
                                                                                        appointed officials, human resources
                                                                                        and budget officials – Craft an education
                                  In many states there is a dependency on
                                                                                        and awareness program for state IT staff,
                                  IT to “figure it out,” if a problem is technol-
                                                                                        lawmakers and budget officials to ensure
                                  ogy related. The state CIO is generally
                                                                                        all parties are on the same page with
                                  expected to introduce innovation within
                                                                                        regards to the pandemic preparedness
                                  the state enterprise and prepare for all
                                                                                        plan and the need for such a plan. Prepare
                                  contingencies. When systems are down
                                                                                        key talking points that outline the ration-
                                  and every aspect of state business is
                                                                                        ale for pandemic planning. Establish met-
                                  affected, the buck may stop at the CIO’s
                                                                                        rics for costs of not having a plan: How
                                  desk. However, there are simple steps that
                                                                                        much will it cost the state if certain critical
                                  CIOs can follow to ensure that their IT
                                                                                        business functions go down? Costs could
                                  infrastructure is protected under any sce-
                                                                                        stem from ERP issues on the payment
                                  nario. One major difference in a pandemic
                                                                                        side; citizen service issues (what it would
                                  crisis versus an unforeseen disaster is that
                                                                                        do to the DMV for license renewals); and
                                  there is an element of nature that may
                                                                                        impacts on eligibility verifications for
                                  provide the luxury of time. The CIO can
                                                                                        social services. How long can the state
                                  start to respond and escalate a response,
                                                                                        afford to be down? How much will this
                                  but identifying the critical triggers and
                                                                                        cost the state? How long can the state be
                                  executing successfully on those must be
                                                                                        without a core business function?
                                  in the state’s overall DR/BC plan. CIOs need
                                  to identify critical staff and business func-
                                                                                        Communication and cross-boundary
                                  tions that their state enterprises cannot
                                                                                        collaboration – A CIO can build a portfo-
                                  function without. The critical business
                                                                                        lio of remote access solutions to meet
                                  functions and critical staff tiering for a
                                                                                        business needs from ultra-secure systems

2                                                                              Pandemic Planning and Response for State IT: Where’s My Staff?
NASCIO: Representing Chief Information Officers of the States

      to fairly simplistic, low bandwidth con-              from all applicable lines of business and
      strained systems. Yet that will not be use-           critical service industries necessary for
      ful if the state’s workers aren’t properly            continuity of IT operations. Keep the dia-
      trained to use the technology. Also, CIOs             logue open with state business partners
      need to build critical partnerships with              and periodically convene briefings for
      other agencies and branches of govern-                them on the state’s DR/BC plans.
      ment. Think outside the box: CIOs can
      partner with anyone to share IT resources;            Communicate to rank and file employ-
      including universities, local government,             ees – Explain there is a pandemic plan
      lottery corporations, local companies and             and the reasons behind its establishment.
      leased facilities with redundant capabilities.        Clearly articulate employee roles during a
                                                            pandemic incident and identify members
      Classify and cross-train workers – State              of a possible crisis management team.
      IT organizations often struggle with get-             Also, compile a list of employee office,
      ting other business units to classify work-           home and mobile phone numbers, and
      ers in terms of criticality, and further              other relevant contact information.
      breaking down their assigned roles and
      providing cross-training so, in the event of          Establish a media crisis communica-
      a crisis, critical employees are equipped to          tions protocol – A crisis communications
      change roles or function in multiple roles.           protocol should be part of a state’s IT
      In most other events, the CIO is able to des-         DR/BC plan. Designate a primary media
      ignate who responds. Yet, with pandemics,             spokesperson with additional, single
      the CIO has no control over who is sick.              point-of-contact communications officers
                                                            as back-ups. Articulate who can speak to
      Intergovernmental communications                      whom under different conditions, as well
      and coordination plan – Develop a plan                as who should not speak with the press.
      to communicate and coordinate efforts
      with state, local and federal government              State summits – Several states have
      officials. Systems critical for other state,          developed educational state-wide sum-
      local and federal programs and services               mits as part of their pandemic influenza
      may need to be temporarily shut down                  preparation. Typically U.S. Department of
      during a pandemic event to safeguard the              Health and Human Services and other fed-
      state’s IT enterprise. Local jurisdictions are        eral, state, local, tribal, not-for-profit, and
      the point-of-service for many state trans-            private sector officials convene to discuss
      actions, including benefits distribution              current and future pandemic readiness
      and child support payments, and alternate             plans. These summits are statewide oppor-
      channels of service delivery may need to              tunities to share planning efforts among
      be identified and temporarily established.            the various partners as states continue
      Make sure jurisdictional authority is                 their work to prepare for this threat.
      clearly established and articulated to                Summits may include elements such as
      avoid internal conflicts during a crisis.             Webcasts.

      Identify indirect factors and implica-
      tions – CIOs should also identify indirect            Planning
      factors and implications related to a pan-
      demic disaster (e.g. loss of staff to public          CIOs must have a DR/BC plan that
      utilities and other infrastructure). The CIO          addresses the unique problem
      should take leadership on this, and begin             associated with a pandemic event – This
      pressing other state entities to make sure            plan should include: (1) A focus on capa-
      that they’re addressing these indirect                bilities that are needed in any crisis situa-
      issues.                                               tion; (2) Identification of functional
                                                            requirements; (3) Planning based on the
      Pandemic preparedness coordinating                    different severity levels of a pandemic
      committees – Gather representatives                   event – see Centers for Disease Control

Pandemic Planning and Response for State IT: Where’s My Staff?                                                                          3
NASCIO: Representing Chief Information Officers of the States

                                  and Prevention (CDC) Pandemic Severity               may find that mandatory service delivery
                                  Index ; (4)                 grams is temporarily disrupted and service
                                  Service level requirements for business              level agreements are not being met.
                                  continuity; (5) Revisions and updates –              Federal programmatic funding may
                                  having critical partners review the plan;            require certain service performance levels
                                  and (6) Storing hard and digital copies of           that cannot be met during a pandemic. In
                                  the plan in several locations for security.          such a situation, the CIO may need to seek
                                                                                       waivers from the federal government, or
                                  Ask and answer the following questions               temporarily seek service freezes because
                                  – (1) What are the top business functions            of IT operational concerns. Investigate the
                                  and essential services without which the             process and options for seeking relief
                                  state enterprise can not operate? Tier               ahead of the crisis!
                                  business functions and essential servic-
                                  es into recovery categories based on                 Build cross-boundary relationships with
                                  level of importance and allowable                    emergency and health agencies – CIOs
                                  downtime. (2) How can disruption to an               should build relationships with state-wide,
                                  agency’s or department’s operations be               agency and local emergency manage-
                                  reduced?                                             ment and health department personnel. A
                                                                                       CIO should know and communicate with
                                  Conduct contingency planning in case                 his or her emergency management coun-
                                  of absent personnel – This could involve             terparts before a crisis. Also, consider forg-
                                  cross-training of essential personnel who            ing multi-state relationships with other
                                  can be lent out to other agencies in case            state CIO counterparts to prepare for
                                  of loss of service. Also, mutual aid agree-          multi-state events, partnering with those
                                  ments with other public/private entities             in the region. Consider developing a cross-
                                  such as state universities for “skilled volun-       boundary DR/BC plan or strategy, as many
                                  teers” can be put in place. Make sure con-           agencies and jurisdictions have their own
                                  tractors and volunteers have approved                plans.
                                  access to facilities during a crisis.
                                  Approach enterprise backup as a                      Conduct testing activities – CIOs should
                                  shared service: Other agencies may have              conduct periodic state-wide training exer-
                                  the capability for excess redundancy.                cises and drills to test pandemic DR/BC
                                                                                       plans. These drills should be pre-sched-
                                  Review and suggest revisions to state                uled and conducted on a regular basis
                                  personnel policies that offer flexibility –          and should include all aspects of on-site
                                  During a pandemic crisis, state IT employ-           and remote access procedures. Conduct a
                                  ees may be asked to work under condi-                gap analysis following each exercise.
                                  tions not traditionally covered under cur-
                                  rent state policy. State CIOs should meet            Prepare for limited or zero access to
                                  with state personnel officials, employee             your facilities – Even though personnel
                                  unions and associations to discuss flexible          may be theoretically available during a cri-
                                  policies that can be temporarily imple-              sis, the structural environment in which IT
                                  mented during a pandemic crisis. In this             systems are located may be where a pan-
                                  manner, decisions made by the CIO con-               demic exposure level is rising. If the area is
                                  cerning who stays on site, who goes                  quarantined and access is prohibited,
                                  home, and issues about pay, leave, and               there exists a serious problem. CIOs must
                                  state liabilities can be adequately                  look at how they would manage the situa-
                                  addressed ahead of a potential crisis.               tion as it is beginning to build. If a facility
                                                                                       becomes contaminated or is in a quaran-
                                  Review state and federal regulatory                  tine zone, state health officials are proba-
                                  requirements regarding business                      bly not going to allow access. It may be
                                  processes and IT service levels – During             possible to seal the area off and gain
                                  a pandemic crisis, state IT organizations            approval for controlled access of critical

   4                                                                          Pandemic Planning and Response for State IT: Where’s My Staff?
NASCIO: Representing Chief Information Officers of the States

      personnel. Thus, be sure to coordinate                Execute emergency standby services
      with state health departments in advance.             and hardware contracts – If necessary,
      Make them aware that they may not be                  execute pre-placed contracts for products
      able to access critical health files if the           and services needed during the crisis. The
      state’s primary computing facilities are              Governor may have to temporarily sus-
      non-operational.                                      pend some of the state’s procurement
                                                            laws and execute emergency purchasing
      Prepare to treat state IT facilities as dis-          guidelines for agencies. Also, consider
      aster areas and go into full DR/BC mode               identifying back-up providers for products
      – If access is denied to critical state data          and services as some suppliers may sus-
      facilities and the result is a failure from the       pend deliveries during a pandemic.
      technology side, the state CIO must be
      prepared to enter into full DR/BC mode.
      Due to a potential lack of access, a CIO              Technology
      may be in the position to declare a full-
      scale disaster.                                       Shutdown non-essential services – This
                                                            will free up resources for other critical
                                                            services. Identify critical business applica-
      The Supply Chain                                      tions and essential services and then tier
                                                            them into recovery categories based on
      Consider outside entities that provide                level of importance and allowable down-
      supplies and support – There are many                 time. Tier III applications would be shut
      organizations such as fuel distributors,              down first. Critical services should be clas-
      wholesalers and grocery stores which                  sified for internal customers versus exter-
      would all be facing a similar problem as              nal customers. Also, limit use of rich media
      state government in a pandemic situation.             and streaming media applications to con-
      Other potentially critical support elements           serve bandwidth.
      to consider are contractors, vendors and
      sites that they provide. CIOs also need to            Protect current systems – Mechanisms
      examine services that provide basic necessi-          include uninterruptible power supply
      ties, such as the power grid that supplies            (UPS), for example, and back-up genera-
      power to state IT facilities. The power grid          tors with standby contracts for diesel fuel.
      itself is not subject to infection; however,          Use priority and back-up fuel suppliers
      the massive number of people it requires to           that also have back-up generators to oper-
      keep operating would be just as susceptible           ate their pumps in the event of a widely
      to a pandemic outbreak as anyone else.                spread power outage.

      Review state contracting instruments                  Remote access from other facilities – If
      and laws – Set up emergency standby                   the business processes and capabilities
      services and hardware contracts and have              are established on the front end, the state
      contracts in place for products and servic-           IT environment can be remotely support-
      es that may be needed in the event of a               ed, as long as the systems do not fail. With
      declared pandemic emergency. Create a                 the likelihood of operating without back-
      contract template so that a contract can be           up tapes, a CIO’s willingness to operate
      developed with just one or two hours work             without those back-ups will determine
      time. CIOs must be sure essential IT procure-         how long operations continue in that
      ment staff are part of the DR/BC plan and             mode versus declaring an actual disaster.
      are aware of their roles in executing pre-            Such a declaration will involve going to
      positioned contracts in the event of a disas-         either an internal back-up source or an
      ter. Provide emergency contact information            outsourced vendor to begin the recovery
      ahead of time. CIOs should also develop               process. Without a process in place, a CIO
      “Emergency Purchasing Guidelines” for                 may be forced to declare a disaster even
      agencies and have emergency response                  though IT systems are intact. Virtualization
      legislation in place.                                 and use of redundant data centers in

Pandemic Planning and Response for State IT: Where’s My Staff?                                                                         5
NASCIO: Representing Chief Information Officers of the States

                                  remote locations may minimize this risk.               Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can
                                                                                         be utilized to monitor power outages and
                                  Tele-working – The tactical use of tele-               system availability. For emergency com-
                                  working for critical staff may resolve many            munications, the state’s Web portal can be
                                  on-site accessibility problems. However,               converted to an emergency management
                                  there is still a pervasive culture in state gov-       portal. Exploit existing interactive video
                                  ernment where some may be leery of let-                conferencing sites and services. Also, Web
                                  ting staff work from home for fear of creat-           2.0 technologies such as Weblogs, Wikis
                                  ing an environment where staff starts                  and RSS feeds can be utilized for emer-
                                  requesting to work from home on a regular              gency communications.
                                  basis. Working with state personnel offices
                                  to educate them on the critical need for
                                  tele-working procedures to be in place may             CIO Considerations – Preparing
                                  avoid future conflict and personnel issues.            for the Worse Case Scenario
                                  Priority IP access for critical employees              State CIOs, as much as possible, should not
                                  – The Government Emergency                             focus on the multi-state, geo-political
                                  Telecommunications Service (GETS), which               aspects of a pandemic incident, but
                                  allows critical government officials to gain           instead focus on “how does this directly
                                  priority accesses to voice line communica-             affect my IT enterprise operations,” and
                                  tions, has been extended to cell phone                 take immediate steps to keep the state’s
                                  service allowing users to drive a priority             essential IT business functions operating.
                                  connection through the PBX phone sys-                  CIOs should rely on federal, state and local
                                  tems. CIOs should explore a similar data               emergency management and health offi-
                                  service that is sponsored by either the                cials to handle the wider “big picture”
                                  National Communication System (NCS)                    issues of disrupted commerce, the general
                                   or another federal agency                health and well-being of the populace,
                                  that would allow critical IT staff to register         and control and protection of a panicked
                                  their local IP address to allow them to gain           populace.
                                  priority access through the IP networks.
                                                                                         If an isolationist self-sustainable “Shelter
                                  Alternative communications methods –                   in Place” strategy must be implemented,
                                  Should a pandemic develop, that doesn’t                then the state CIO should consider plan-
                                  necessarily mean the Internet will fail.               ning for emergency operations center
                                  However, absenteeism over a period of                  class control rooms, complete with self-
                                  time among the maintenance staff of                    contained air filtration systems, on-site
                                  Internet providers may lead to issues that             fuel supplies for power generation, food
                                  cause the Internet’s infrastructure to fail.           stores and internal health care and vac-
                                  This could greatly affect tele-working                 cines for essential employees.
                                  technologies and VPN access for critical
                                  staff and increase the need for remote                 With states already consolidating data
                                  access technologies that do not depend                 assets in hardened, centralized facilities
                                  on PBX phone systems and Internet                      with secondary back-up centers, taking
                                  access. Alternative communications                     these additional steps may not be think-
                                  methods require pre-planning. A CIO can                ing too far outside the box, especially con-
                                  not afford to explore such methods for the             sidering the bleak projections and impli-
                                  first time as the problem is unfolding.                cations for a natural or man-made pan-
                                  Mobile communication centers also can                  demic incident occurring in the near
                                  be utilized in the event that traditional              future.
                                  telecommunications and IP systems are
                                  down.                                                  A final important concern of CIO pandem-
                                                                                         ic planning centers on what could be very
                                  Leverage technology and think outside                  real and profound implications for essen-
                                  the box – In a disaster situation a state’s            tial IT and facilities maintenance staff. To

   6                                                                            Pandemic Planning and Response for State IT: Where’s My Staff?
NASCIO: Representing Chief Information Officers of the States

      maintain critical computing operations
      that support the state’s first responder
      community, essential IT and facilities
      maintenance staff may require insulation
      both physically and emotionally from the
      possible horrors occurring outside the
      data facility doors. It may not be too far-
      fetched to consider providing critical IT
      staff psychological training to cope with
      isolation from families, and the worse case
      scenario that their loved ones and com-
      munities my be experiencing untold stress
      from loss of life and social upheaval.

      Use this Brief in conjunction with
      NASCIO’s Disaster Recovery Tool-
      kit

      NASCIO’s Disaster Recovery Working
      Group has developed a series of products
      on disaster recovery and business conti-
      nuity including the working group’s publi-
      cation, “IT Disaster Recovery and Business
      Continuity Tool-kit: Planning for the Next
      Disaster,” designed to assist state CIOs
      and their staff in IT disaster recovery and
      business continuity planning; and
      NASCIO’s DVD on disaster recovery,
      “Government at Risk: Protecting Your IT
      Infrastructure.” These products, along
      with this issue brief on pandemic pre-
      paredness, will serve as resources for state
      CIOs and other state leaders to not only
      better position themselves to cope with
      an IT crisis, but also to help make the busi-
      ness case for disaster recovery and busi-
      ness continuity activities in their states.

Pandemic Planning and Response for State IT: Where’s My Staff?                                                           7
NASCIO: Representing Chief Information Officers of the States

                                  Appendix 1. Additional Resources

                                  State Government Resources

                                  State Pandemic Influenza Summits (ASHTO):
                                  
                                  PandemicFlu.gov – State Pandemic Preparedness Plans:
                                  
                                  State and Local Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist: Department of Health and
                                  Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
                                  
                                  Alabama Pandemic Flu Preparedness Website:
                                  
                                  Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) Pandemic Preparedness Planning
                                  Website:
                                  
                                  Arizona State Agency Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Checklist:
                                  
                                  Arizona Influenza Pandemic Response Plan (ADHS):
                                  
                                  Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Influenza Pandemic
                                  Response Plan:
                                  
                                  California Department of Health Services (CDHS) Pandemic Flu Website:
                                  
                                  California Department of Health Services (CDHS) Pandemic Influenza Preparedness
                                  and Response Plan:
                                  
                                  California’s Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Efforts:
                                  
                                  Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Emergency Preparedness and
                                  Response Pandemic Influenza Planning Webpage:
                                  
                                  Connecticut Department of Public Health (CDPH) Pandemic Influenza Preparedness
                                  Plan:
                                  
                                  Connecticut Department of Public Health (CDPH) Pandemic Influenza Summit:
                                  
   8                                                                       Pandemic Planning and Response for State IT: Where’s My Staff?
NASCIO: Representing Chief Information Officers of the States

      Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health,
      Pandemic Flu Website:
      
      Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health,
      Pandemic Influenza Plan:
      
      Florida Department of Health (DOH) Pandemic Influenza Website:
      
      Florida Department of Health (DOH), Action Plan for Pandemic Influenza Florida,
      March 2004:
      
      Florida CIO Council, Pandemic Information Website:
      
      Florida CIO Council, Pandemic Preparedness Committee Website:
      
      Georgia Department of Human Resources (GDHR) Pandemic Influenza Preparedness
      Information Website:
      
      Hawaii State Department of Health, Pandemic Flu Plans Website:
      
      Idaho Department of Health & Welfare, Pandemic Influenza Response Plan, March
      2006:
      
      Illinois Department of Public Health Pandemic Influenza Website:
      
      Kansas Department of Health & Environment, Pandemic Influenza Information
      Website:
      
      Kansas Department of Health & Environment, Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and
      Response Plan:
      
      Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Pandemic Influenza Website:
      
      Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Public Health,
      Division of Epidemiology and Health Planning, Pandemic Influenza Preparedness
      Plan, April 2007:
      
Pandemic Planning and Response for State IT: Where’s My Staff?                                                                9
NASCIO: Representing Chief Information Officers of the States

                                  Louisiana Office of Public Health, Statewide Draft Pandemic Influenza Plan, September
                                  2006:
                                  
                                  Maine.gov Pandemic Flu Planning Website:
                                  
                                  Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Pandemic Influenza
                                  Information Website:
                                  
                                  Maryland.gov Maryland Flu Preparedness Website:
                                  
                                  Maryland’s Department of Health & Mental Hygiene Pandemic Influenza Website:
                                  
                                  Maryland Community Health Administration Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan
                                  Website:
                                  
                                  Massachusetts Department of Public Health Pandemic Flu Information Webpage:
                                  
                                  Massachusetts Department of Public Health Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan:
                                  
                                  Massachusetts Department of Education Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and All
                                  Hazards Planning Resources Website:
                                  
                                  Michigan Department of Community Health Pandemic Influenza Website:
                                  
                                  Minnesota Department of Health Pandemic Preparedness Website:
                                  
                                  Mississippi – PandemicFlu.MS.Gov:
                                  
                                  Missouri State Senate Interim Committee on Pandemic Preparedness Website:
                                  
                                  Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Influenza Summit:
                                  
                                  Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Pandemic Influenza Plan, February
                                  2006:
                                  
                                  Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services, Pandemic Influenza
                                  Preparedness & Response Plan, May 2006:
                                  
10                                                                     Pandemic Planning and Response for State IT: Where’s My Staff?
NASCIO: Representing Chief Information Officers of the States

      Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Pandemic Flu Homepage:
      
      Nebraska Health and Human Services System, Pandemic Influenza Prevention and
      Control Guidelines, February 2006:
      
      Nevada State Health Division, Pandemic Flu Homepage:
      
      New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, Pandemic Planning
      Coordinating Committee (PPCC):
      
      New Hampshire Influenza Pandemic Public Health Preparedness & Response Plan,
      February 2007:
      
      New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Pandemic Influenza Website:
      
      New Mexico Department of Health, Pandemic Influenza Webpage:
      
      Interim Pandemic Influenza Emergency Response, APPENDIX 2 of the Hazard Specific
      Appendices, New Mexico Department of Health, Emergency Operations Plan, March
      2006:
      
      New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Avian Flu Webpage:
      
      New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Pandemic Influenza
      Preparedness and Response Plan, July 2006:
      
      North Carolina Division of Public Health Resources Pandemic Flu Preparedness
      Website:
      
      North Carolina Pandemic Influenza Plan, January 2007:
      
      The North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness, Avian & Pandemic Flu
      Resources Webpage:
      
      North Dakota Department of Health Pandemic Influenza Plan Summary:
      
Pandemic Planning and Response for State IT: Where’s My Staff?                                                                11
NASCIO: Representing Chief Information Officers of the States

                                  Ohio.gov Pandemic Flu Website:
                                  
                                  Oklahoma State Department of Health, Pandemic Influenza Management Plan
                                  Committee, Pandemic Influenza Management Plan, July, 2005:
                                  
                                  Oklahoma Pandemic Influenza Management Plan, Public Health Fact Sheet, October
                                  2006:
                                  
                                  Oregon Department of Human Services Pandemic Influenza Webpage:
                                  
                                  Oregon Department of Human Services Public Health Pandemic Influenza Plan,
                                  November 2006:
                                  
                                  Pennsylvania’s Pandemic Preparedness Website:
                                  
                                  Rhode Island Department of Health Pandemic Influenza Homepage:
                                  
                                  Rhode Island Department of Health Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Checklist, May
                                  2006:
                                  
                                  South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Pandemic Influenza
                                  Preparedness Webpage:
                                  
                                  South Dakota Department of Health Pandemic Influenza Information Webpage:
                                  
                                  Texas Department of State Health Services Pandemic Preparedness Webpage:
                                  
                                  Texas Department of State Health Services Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan,
                                  October 2005:
                                  
                                  Texas Department of State Health Services, Avian Flu Power Point Presentation, June
                                  2006
                                  
                                  Utah.gov Pandemic influenza Website:
                                  
                                  Utah Department of Health Pandemic Influenza Response Plan, November 2005:
                                  
12                                                                       Pandemic Planning and Response for State IT: Where’s My Staff?
NASCIO: Representing Chief Information Officers of the States

      Virginia Department of Health Pandemic Influenza Webpage:
      
      Virginia Department of Health Pandemic Influenza DVD:
      
      Washington State Department of Health Pandemic Influenza Webpage:
      
      West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Pandemic Influenza
      Webpage:
      
      West Virginia Public Service Commission Pandemic Influenza Webpage:
      
      Wisconsin’s Pandemic Influenza (Flu) Information Webpage (Included on this Webpage
      is information on Governor Doyle’s Pandemic Readiness Summit):
      
      Wyoming Department of Health Pandemic Influenza Webpage:
      
      Wyoming Department of Health Pandemic Influenza Response Plan Version 2.0, July
      2006:
      
      Federal Government Resources

      PandemicFlu.Gov, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS):
      
      U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Vaccine Program Office
      (NVPO), Pandemic Influenza:
      
      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Resources for Pandemic Flu:
      
      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Pandemic Severity Index (Modeled after
      the five levels of severity used for hurricanes and designed to help officials determine
      whether to take steps such as advising employers to promote tele-work):
      
      U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Strategy for Pandemic Flu:
      
      Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Assistance for Human
      Influenza Pandemic, Disaster Assistance Policy 9523.17
      
Pandemic Planning and Response for State IT: Where’s My Staff?                                                                  13
NASCIO: Representing Chief Information Officers of the States

                                  Congressional Research Service (CRS) Report for Congress, Pandemic Influenza: An
                                  Analysis of State Preparedness and Response Plans, September 2007:
                                  .

                                  The White House, National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Website:
                                  
                                  The White House, National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza: Implementation Plan, May
                                  2006:
                                  
                                  Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Pandemic Planning Website:
                                  
                                  The Government Accountability Office (GAO), Influenza Pandemic: Opportunities Exist to
                                  Address Critical Infrastructure Protection Challenges That Require Federal and Private
                                  Sector Coordination, GAO-08-36, October 2007:
                                  
                                  GAO Report Highlights: 

                                  National/ International Organization, Academia and Consortium Resources

                                  National Governor’s Association (NGA) publication on state-wide pandemic planning,
                                  “Preparing for a Pandemic Influenza: A Primer for Governors and Senior State Officials.”
                                  
                                  The National Center for Critical Incident Analysis, Report, Pandemic Influenza – Nature’s
                                  Bioterrorist Threat:
                                  
                                  World Health Organization (WHO) Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR)
                                  Website:
                                  
                                  Articles and Reports

                                  Government Technology, Some IT workers may get priority on flu pandemic vaccine,
                                  October 2007, News Report
                                  
                                  Government Technology, Georgia Recipient of Pandemic Flu Preparedness Funds,
                                  September 2007, News Report
                                  
                                  “Simulation Suggests that Flu Outbreak Could Cripple the Internet” – Government
                                  Computer News (GCN), May 2006 

14                                                                         Pandemic Planning and Response for State IT: Where’s My Staff?
NASCIO: Representing Chief Information Officers of the States

      Influenza Pandemic Simulation, Implications for the Public and Private Sectors, a report
      by Booz Allen Hamilton, 2006:
      
Pandemic Planning and Response for State IT: Where’s My Staff?                                                                    15
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