“Keep the Courts Open”

Emergency Preparedness in theFlorida State Courts

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Presentation Overview

1. Court Preparedness Planning2. Examples of Effective Court

Preparedness Planning and Emergency Response

3. The Pandemic Influenza Threat

“Keep the Courts Open”

Court Preparedness Planning

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Leadership

Justice WellsJustice Wells Justice AnsteadJustice Anstead

We must deal with crises in a way that protects the health and safety of everyone inside our facilities

We must “keep the courts open” to ensure justice for the people

Justice ParienteJustice Pariente Justice LewisJustice Lewis

Chief Justices of the Florida Supreme Court, 9/11 to PresentChief Justices of the Florida Supreme Court, 9/11 to Present

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Leadership

Chief JusticeChief JusticeR. Fred LewisR. Fred Lewis

-- From the Passing of the Gavel Ceremony, June 30, 2006

““First and foremost First and foremost is an open and is an open and operational courts operational courts system in the face system in the face of no matter what of no matter what may occur….We may occur….We must prepare, must prepare, prepare, prepare. prepare, prepare. We must continue We must continue to do so.”to do so.”

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The Preparedness Planning Steps

Staffing Emergency coordinating officers (ECO) and

public information officers (PIO) Connecting

Emergency management, law enforcement, local bar association, fire and rescue, health officials, etc.

Coordinating CEMG and CEMT

Planning Administrative and emergency procedures Continuity of operations plans (COOP)

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Administrative and Emergency Procedures

Emergency Pending or Occurs

Initial Response to Emergencies Will be Outlined

and Should be Followed Based on the Administrative and Emergency Procedures

Does Emergency Causethe Closure of Primary

Facility?

Address Emergency and Resume Full Operations in Primary Facility

Handle the Emergency Situation as Outlined in the

Administrative and Emergency Procedures

No

Is the Length of the Closure Minimal and Acceptable?

Yes

Address Emergency and Resume Full Operations in Primary Facility

Yes

No

COOP

An Individual or Group will make an Initial Assessment as to Whether or Not the Primary Facility Needs to be Closed

Immediately

A copy of this PowerPoint is available atwww.flcourts.org (Click on “Emergency Preparedness”)

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Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)

COOP

Activate COOP and Begin the Process toward Performance

of Mission Essential Functions in a Predetermined and

Temporary Alternate Facility

Can Full Operations in Primary Facility be

Reconstituted in 30 Days?

Transfer Back into Full Operations in the Primary

Facility

Immediately Begin Efforts to Reconstitute Full Operations within 30 Days in a Long-

Term Alternate Facility

Full Operations in a Long-Term Alternate Facility Initiated

within 30 Days

Perform Mission Essential Functions under the COOP on

a Temporary Basis

Yes

An Individual or Group will Assess Whether or Not Full Operations in the Primary

Facility can be Reconstituted within 30 Days of COOP

Activation

Immediately

Perform Mission Essential Functions under the COOP on

a Temporary Basis

No

A copy of this PowerPoint is available atwww.flcourts.org (Click on “Emergency Preparedness”)

“Keep the Courts Open”

Examples of Effective CourtExamples of Effective Court

Preparedness Planning and Emergency Preparedness Planning and Emergency ResponseResponse

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Examples of the Impact of Hurricane Ivan

M.C. Blanchard Courthouse in Pensacola Florida

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Examples of the Impact of Hurricane Ivan

M.C. Blanchard Courthouse in Pensacola Florida

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The Primary Alternate Facility

The Pensacola Civic Center

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Courtrooms at the Alternate Facility

Courtroom with Jury Box at the Alternate Facility

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Mission Essential Functions at the Alternate Facility

Justice Barbara J. Pariente visits Pensacolato Review the Response to Hurricane Ivan

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Long-Term Alternate Facilities

Judicial Trailer Park

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Examples of the Impact of Hurricane Dennis

Santa Rosa County Courthouse in Milton Florida

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Examples of the Impact of Hurricane Dennis

Santa Rosa County Courthouse in Milton Florida

“Keep the Courts Open”

The Pandemic Influenza Threat

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A Unique Concern for Florida

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Current StatusInterpandemic period

Phase 1:

No new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans. An influenza virus subtype that has caused human infection may be present in animals. If present in animals, the risk of human infection or disease is considered to be low.

Phase 2:

No new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans. However, a circulating animal influenza virus subtype poses a substantial risk of human disease.

Pandemic alert period

Phase 3:

Human infection(s) with a new subtype but no human-to-human spread, or at most rare instances of spread to a close contact.

Phase 4:

Small cluster(s) with limited human-to-human transmission but spread is highly localized, suggesting that the virus is not well adapted to humans.

Phase 5:

Larger cluster(s) but human-to-human spread still localized, suggesting that the virus is becoming increasingly better adapted to humans but may not yet be fully transmissible (substantial pandemic risk).

Pandemic period

Phase 6:

Pandemic: increased and sustained transmission in general population.

Postpandemic period

Return to interpandemic period.

WHO global influenza preparedness planWHO global influenza preparedness plan. World Health Organization. Switzerland: Department of . World Health Organization. Switzerland: Department of Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response, 2005. Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response, 2005.

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Strategy for Pandemic Influenza

Complete the Planning TasksComplete the Planning Tasks

Improved Capacity to Implement Improved Capacity to Implement the COOP Process for Responding the COOP Process for Responding

to a Pandemicto a Pandemic

Improved Capacity toImproved Capacity to

Achieve the Tactical ObjectivesAchieve the Tactical Objectives

Improved Capacity toImproved Capacity to

Achieve the Strategic GoalsAchieve the Strategic Goals

Leads toLeads to

Leads toLeads to

Leads toLeads to

A copy of the Strategy is available atwww.flcourts.org (Click on “Emergency Preparedness”)

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Wrestle with the Tough Issues

Legal Issues Unsettled law, public health related cases, bench

books, etc. Personnel Issues

Leave, payroll, employee assistance, workers comp, etc.

Technology (no or limited face-to-face contact) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Employee Education and Family Preparedness

(Two week supply?) Jury Testing and Exercising Plans

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Questions or Comments

FYI, some questions I hope you FYI, some questions I hope you don’tdon’t ask ask: Has every Florida court fully developed their plans? Has implementation been like making sausage? How have the Florida courts addressed NIMS compliance? How have the Florida courts addressed respiratory

protection programs and other PPE policy issues? How do courts access DHS funds? Which, if any, ESF do the courts fit into? How do courts ensure they can protect their records? What are your experiences with satellite phones? Are the courts really that important in an emergency

response?

Contact Information:Greg Cowan 850-922-5460 or cowang@flcourts.org

Additional Information:www.flcourts.org (Click on “Emergency Preparedness”)