Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity Planning

EPSHRM has compiled a list of emergency contacts and websites to aid our members and their employers with Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity Planning.

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    Department of Public Safety Emergency Management Related Links
    http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DEM/links.htm

American Red Cross
Visit the website of the American Red Cross for tips and help in designing disaster preparedness and response by clicking here.

El Paso Area Chapter
American Red Cross
El Paso Area Chapter
3620 Admiral Street
El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 592-0208
(915) 592-8751 (FAX)
elpaso@usa.redcross.org
http://www.redcrosselpaso.org

Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has a website www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf with information about planning for a disaster, how to respond, and how they can help when and if you need it. Local chapters include:

    El Paso (Temple), TX Corps Community Center
    520 East Road
    El Paso, TX 79915
    Major Pedro S. Delgado
    (915) 592-9099
    Pedro_Delgado@usw.salvationarmy.org

    El Paso (Citadel), TX Corps Community Center
    4900 Hercules Avenue
    El Paso TX, 79904
    Major Ronald W. Wildman
    (915) 755-4168
    ronald_wildman@usw.salvationarmy.org

FEMA
FEMA has prepared an Emergency Management Guide for Business and Industry and can be downloaded here http://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/bizindst.pdf. Also, FEMA has quite a few resources available for disaster preparedness including information about disasters in progress located at the FEMA website http://www.fema.gov/. 

Department of Labor
The Department of Labor has created a website on Effective Emergency Preparedness Planning: Addressing the Needs of Employees with Disabilities located at http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/effective.htm.

In addition, searching on the word "disaster" on the DOL website produced 2805 results, including some very informative and helpful tips for unemployment assistance from both the DOL and OSHA! Those results are located here: http://www.dol.gov/search/Search.aspx?search_term=disaster&offset=0.

Department of State
The State Department has a website devoted to Emergencies and Crises including information for Americans living and working abroad and even those who plan to travel abroad. That information can be found here.

OSHA
OSHA has prepared an eTool for Evacuation Plans and Procedures and can be found here on the OSHA website http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/.

Federal Government
The federal government has created a website devoted to disaster help and can be located here https://disasterhelp.gov/portal/jhtml/index.jhtml.

CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have developed an Emergency Preparedness and Response website including information on agents, diseases, and other threats. That information can be found at the CDC website here http://www.bt.cdc.gov/.

SHRM
The Society for Human Resource Management has developed a comprehensive Disaster Preparedness Toolkit. This toolkit not only includes links to FEMA, DOL, CDC, OSHA, et al, but also includes sample policies, communications, articles, and lists that can be used by Human Resource professionals when developing disaster and business continuity plans. That information can be accessed on the SHRM website at http://www.shrm.org/hrtools/toolkits_published/CMS_016206.asp.

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H1N1 (Swine) Flu

In April 2009, a new strain of the Swine Flu, known as H1N1, was discovered.  This new strain is not limited to animals and has spread quickly among the human population.  While the number of world-wide cases is relatively low for a pandemic, health officials expect rapid spread of the disease during the upcoming flu season.  And while the symptoms of the Swine Flu are relatively mild, it can still result in high absenteeism rates.  To help our members prepare for the upcoming flu season, and the Swine Flu in particular, we have provided the following links.  Also, for SHRM Members, sample policies and toolkits have been made available, please click here to view.

FLU FACTS & INFORMATION

General Business and Workplace Guidance for the Prevention of Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Flu in Workers
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/workplace.htm

CDC Changes Advice on How Long People with Flu Should Stay Home
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/exclusion.htm

Flu.gov
Checklists, communications, guidance and links for employers from government agencies.
http://www.flu.gov/plan/workplaceplanning/index.html

Swine Flu Information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Vaccine recommendations, a state-by-state surveillance report and more facts and figures about the spread of H1N1 flu.
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic
Detailed workplace-related guidance from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) including checklists of actions employers can take to protect employees, maintain operations and address work-related travel.
http://www.osha.gov/dsg/topics/pandemicflu/index.html

EEOC Links
Employment Discrimination and the 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus (Swine Flu)
http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/h1n1.html

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Human Resource Policies and Pandemic Planning addresses employer questions such as sending workers home, pay issues, working at home and social distancing.
http://www.flu.gov/faq/workplace_questions/human_resource_policies/index.html

World Health Organization – Swine Flu Updates
Daily updates, including data on confirmed cases by country.
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html

CDC Travelers Health Home Page
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/ 

H1N1 (Swine) Flu Prevention 

The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta have published a two-page flyer concerning what to do during a pandemic.  Please click here or on the picture below for more information.

       

SHRM has extensive resources available for combatting H1N1.  Please click here.