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INTRODUCTION: A Pandemic Emergency will vary from other emergency situations in several different ways. The impact from a pandemic incident will be felt in a variety of different areas and may last for an extended period of time. This plan will attempt to address the possible impacts in all of these areas and will attempt to mitigate the amount of impact felt as well as to minimize the amount of disruption felt due to a pandemic incident. It is also important to note that the largest impact felt due to a pandemic incident will be upon the Health Care fields and a large part of the ability to deal with the impacts will depend upon the ability of the health care resources in the community and the surrounding areas and their ability to cope with the incident. PRE - DISASTER WARNING: It is expected that the virus will start elsewhere in the world and then spread to North America. Accepting this assumption officials anticipate up to three months warning from the time the World Health Organization (WHO) declares a Pandemic, to the time it arrives in Canada. The 1st peak in illness is expected to occur 2 to 4 months after the arrival of the virus in Canada. A pandemic may last up to 2 years and may occur in waves. Each wave could last 6 to 8 weeks and be separated by 3 to 9 months. EFFECTS: - Ø Reduction of the work force
- Ø Fear of becoming infected at work or other public places
- Ø Caring for sick family members, friends and neighbours
- Ø Supply chain shortages. Some supplies may not be available at all
- Ø Illness/quarantine due to exposure to the virus
- Ø Potential difficulties in mutual agreements with neighbouring communities
- Ø Possible school closures
- Ø Reduction of tax revenue
- Ø Human death and/or casualties
- Ø Disruption of Services/Businesses
FLU PANDEMIC ILLNESS PROJECTIONS PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA - JUNE 16, 2006 - Þ 15 to 35% population will be clinically ill over the entire period.
- Þ Plan for 25% illness rate over 6 weeks in the first wave.
- Þ Plan for up to 50% of ill population to seek outpatient care.
- Þ Plan for 1% of ill population to be hospitalized.
- Þ Plan for .4% of total population to die.
- Þ Plan for 20% of workforce to be absent on any given day.
Potential Impact of FLU PANDEMIC ILLNESS for the Rural Municipality of Cornwallis Based on a population of 2800. - § 15 to 35% or 420 to 980 of population of the Rural Municipality of Cornwallis of would become ill for a period of 2-12 days during the 3 waves.
- § 1400 of those infected would seek outpatient treatment
- § Approximately 28 would require hospitalization
- § Potential death rate could reach 11.
One of the most serious is the reduction of the workforce. We will also experience problems supplying essential materials to maintain basic services. Business will be affected due to employee absenteeism. Restaurants, retail businesses and community centers may be hit hard financially. Grocery stores and pharmacies may not be able to operate or may run short of inventory due to production & shipping problems. The Rural Municipality of Cornwallis has attempted to ensure enough personnel are cross trained to fill essential services positions and thereby lessen the impact on the public. The Rural Municipality of Cornwallis has also tried to ensure that there is adequate storage capacity for chemicals used in any essential services. This storage capacity should help alleviate the reliance on outside suppliers during times of crisis. The Rural Municipality of Cornwallis and Emergency Management have worked together to develop a Pandemic Plan and a set of procedures to help mitigate the impact of a Pandemic incident. ESSENTIAL SERVICES 1. HEALTH CARE SYSTEM: Brandon Regional Health Authority has developed their own Pandemic Flu plan for their area. 2. POLICING: There is one constable employed by the municipality mainly responsible for the enforcement of by-law issues. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are responsible for criminal enforcement. Their own internal plans will be taking a pandemic into account. 3. FIRE PROTECTION: The Rural Municipality of Cornwallis is dependent on the services provided by the Brandon Emergency Services, Shilo Fire Services, the volunteer Fire Department of the Village of Wawanesa and also Spring Valley Colony will respond if needed. MAINTAINING ESSENTIAL SERVICES Appendix "A" provides a list of persons for the essential service categories that are available to provide emergency backup staff coverage. It is anticipated that 20% of existing staff will be absent from work in the event of a flu pandemic. The Rural Municipality of Cornwallis is satisfied that one employee providing coverage for the following classifications can provide essential services. - o office staff
- o emergency grader operations
EMPLOYEE PROTECTION - INSIDE PERSONNEL The design of the customer service area inside the municipal office will not allow for a separation between the customer and the municipal employees. It shall be the decision of council as to whether or not to keep their respective offices open to the public. In the event of a pandemic declaration, the office of the Rural Municipality of Cornwallis would encourage those that require accessing the municipal office, contact via telephone, email or any postal service. Bills can be paid utilizing Canada Post, "telpay" or through the internet. Any inside personnel that will have any indication of contracting the pandemic flu will be instructed to remain at home until the symptoms subside. EMPLOYEE PR0TECTION - OUTSIDE PERSONNEL There is very limited interaction for the outside personnel with the general public. All outside personnel have access to a cell phone. The SARS outbreak identified that staff demanded facemask protection. A supply of facemasks has been included in the inventory of emergency supplies. Any outside personnel that will have any indication of contracting the flu pandemic will be instructed to remain at home until the symptoms subside. RECOVERY PLAN: Co-ordinate a multi-agency community needs assessment to focus on those affected and least able to cope financially or emotionally. Co-ordinate recovery activities including counselling services, social services, etc. Keeping the public and target groups informed through the media, Internet, written materials and/or community meetings. Work with the regional health authority to provide counseling and debriefing sessions. The paying of costs incurred. Disaster Financial Assistance or Insurance claims. RESOURCES: Manitoba is part of a national and international community that is preparing for an Influenza Pandemic outbreak. The fact that there is so much known about avian influenza is one indication that world wide surveillance efforts are working and providing vital information about influenza. Updated information is constantly evolving. Therefore the Rural Municipality of Cornwallis Influenza Pandemic Emergency Plan will be reviewed and updated to reflect the most recent data at the time a Pandemic is declared by the World Health Organization. The following websites have current Pandemic information: Public Health Agency of Canada www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cpip-pcicpi/ Province of Manitoba www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/cmoh/pandemic.html http://www.manitobaemo.ca/ SUMMARY: It is imperative to recognize that all the information listed elsewhere in the Rural Municipality of Cornwallis Emergency Plan shall be considered part of the INFLUENZA PANDEMIC EMERGENCY PLAN.
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