An effective Continuity of Operations Plan [COOP] outlines the steps you will take in the event of a natural or manmade disaster, to make an orderly and efficient transition to emergency operations while providing instructions on how your organization will continue to fulfill its Critical Functions. Your plan includes information on emergency evacuation procedures, disaster response, and emergency delegation of authority, assignment of responsibilities, assurance of continuity of operations, prevention and preparedness measures as well as lists of external material and technical assistance.

Terminology:

• Business Continuity Plan (BCP) — Typically used in private sector. It refers to the business’s operational plans.
• Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) — Refers to the operational plan for the resurrection of services after an event.
• Continuity of Government (COG) — Overall leadership and organizational continuity planning for units of government
• Critical Functions are the direct services you provide, the cessation of which would immediately affect the safety, health, subsistence, and welfare of your customers, or would have an impact such that your ability operate would be curtailed.

Resources:

FEMA Continuity of Operations (COOP) Programs. Contains templates and info. Designed by FEMA for other government agencies but highly recommended: http://www.fema.gov/government/coop/index.shtm#0

• COOP Self-Assessment Tool (…asks many hard questions about your COOP)
• COOP Plan Template and COOP Plan Template Instructions
• Pandemic Influenza COOP Annex Template Instructions
• Vital Records (…asks more hard questions about your data)
• COOP Multi-Year Strategy and Program Management Plan
• Education and training opportunities; self-study, tools for you, resident instruction

American Red Cross. One of the top two or three sources for disaster-tested information on how to prepare yourself and your family to respond and recover from disasters of all types. Here you will find out how to Get prepared; Get Trained; Get involved:

• Berrien County Chapter: http://www.berrienredcross.org
• National: http://www.redcross.org

READY.GOV. Another great source for all types of emergency preparedness information: personal, family, home, shelter design, downloads of free information, and much, much more. There’s even a site for kids! For business, you can find out here how to:

• Plan to stay in business
• Talk to your people
• Protect your investment

All of this is found at http://www.ready.gov/

How are avian, pandemic, and seasonal flu different?

Avian flu is caused by avian influenza viruses, which occur naturally among wild or domesticated birds.

Pandemic flu is caused by a flu virus that has mutated from an animal form of the virus and has developed the ability to spread from human-to-human. This may result in a global (pandemic) outbreak. Currently there is no pandemic flu.

Seasonal flu is the contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.

Other emerging diseases that have appeared in Berrien County

• West Nile Virus
• Lyme Disease

Bioterrorism is the intentional use of infectious agents, or germs, to cause illness. Bioterrorism preparedness is a national priority. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has worked with state and local health departments to identify and to respond to bioterrorism for several years. The federal response to bioterrorism includes medications, medical supplies, and if necessary, vaccines to protect an affected community.

Berrien County is aware of the need to be prepared for bioterrorism. For the past several years Public Health has worked with Berrien County first response agencies to increase our ability to detect and respond to a bioterrorism attack. Public Health has also developed bioterrorism response plans along with the Michigan Department of Community Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The “Category A” Biological Agents
Among the many infectious diseases, there are a relative few that have been “weaponized.” That is, developed for use in warfare. There is evidence that some of these Category A agents may be available to, or in the possession of terrorists or governments hostile to the United States. They are:

• Anthrax
• Botulinum Toxin
• Plague
• Smallpox
• Tularemia
• Viral Hemorraghic Fevers

Weapons of Mass Destruction, or WMD, are grouped into five categories using the acronym CBRNE (pronounced “see-burn”). They are Chemical, Biological (described above), Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive. Terrorist groups and governments have previously used all of these materials except for nuclear weapons. For further information on these weapons, follow the links below:

Chemical This site includes also information on toxic industrial chemicals (TIC) and toxic industrial materials (TIM), commonly referred to as “HAZMAT,” or hazardous materials.

Some chemicals which have been weaponized and used for warfare follow:

• Nerve Agents
• Blood Agents
• Blister Agents
• Bio-toxins

For poison questions of all types contact our regional Poison Control Center or for Poisoning emergencies, call (800) 222-1222.

Biological (also see above)

Radiological What to do about “dirty bombs.”

Nuclear What to do in the event of a nuclear weapon detonation.

Explosive What to do during an explosion or bomb threat.

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The Berrien County Health Department’s Emergency Preparedness program follows the All-hazards approach to emergency preparedness planning and response. Our purpose is to help prepare the general public, our agency, and community partners for public health emergencies. To contact the Department’s Emergency Services Coordinator, Craig Massey, call (269) 927-5621.

All Hazards Planning
The health department plans for all types of emergencies and disasters, man-made and natural. Public Health Emergencies include:

• Disease Outbreaks like Chickenpox and Tuberculosis
• Food-borne illnesses such as Norovirus and Salmonella
• Bioterrorism; when weaponized agents like Anthrax or Smallpox are used
• Weather Emergencies such as extreme heat, cold, tornados
• Incidents involving hazardous materials (HAZMAT)
• Nuclear power plant emergencies

See the “Hot Topics” section for more information on these topics and many others.

The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)
The Health Department helps fire departments and hazardous materials (HAZMAT) first responders plan for a coordinated response to HAZMAT incidents. HAZMAT spills can occur in a factory or business place, on the roads as a result of a transportation accident, or on a farm during pesticide application. For more information on the Berrien County LEPC and its meetings, contact the Berrien County Sheriff Department’s Emergency Management Office or contact the Berrien County Health Department’s Emergency Services Coordinator, Craig Massey, at (269) 927-5621.

The Berrien County Disaster Committee
A forum to discuss emergency preparedness matters and plan for emergency response to all forms of hazards. There are Multiple sub-committees dealing with: volunteer resources, Homeland Security, animals and agriculture ; Communications; exercise and training; transportation & evacuation; public Information and notification; special needs populations and more. For more information on the Berrien County Disaster Committee and its meetings, contact the Berrien County Sheriff Department’s Emergency Management Office or contact the Berrien County Health Department’s Emergency Services Coordinator, Craig Massey, at (269) 927-5621.

5th District Medical Response Coalition
The 5th District Medical Response Coalition is a group of agencies joined together to ensure a coordinated medical response in the event of an emergency. This coalition consists of over 80 members from Emergency Management, Hospitals, EMS, Public Health and other Public Service Agencies such as the Red Cross and Community Mental Health. For more information on the coalition visit www.5dmrc.org.

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Berrien County and the Berrien County Health Department prepare for natural and man-made disasters and emergencies using the All-Hazards approach. The mission of emergency preparedness agencies today is much broader than the mission given the predecessor “civil defense” agencies of the 1950s and 60s. Today’s emergency response agencies respond to almost all disasters and emergencies that may occur. These include natural disasters such as disease, blizzards, flooding, tornados, and power outages as well as man-made and homeland security/terrorism-type incidents.

Man-made hazards include: Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and…

…other Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) such as toxic industrial chemicals (TIC) such as chlorine gas and toxic industrial materials (TIM) such as mercury.

Natural Hazards include: Severe winter weather, temperature extremes, tornados, floods, and disease.

In the United States each year, natural disasters cause hundreds of deaths and cost billions of dollars in disaster aid, disruption of commerce, and destruction of homes and critical infrastructure. Although the number of lives lost to natural hazards each year generally has declined, the economic cost of major disaster response and recovery continues to rise. Berrien County response agencies including the Berrien County Health Department plan and train together to prepare to respond to these and other natural disasters.

To prepare yourself and your family to respond to all types of emergencies and disasters, we recommend you visit or contact:

The Berrien County Chapter of the American Red Cross and click on “Get Prepared.”

We also recommend you visit Ready.gov for additional information.

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Berrien County Emergency Management Department

Berrien County Chapter, American Red Cross

Berrien County Office, Michigan Department of Human Services (Formerly FIA)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• http://www.fema.gov (English)
• http://www.fema.gov/spanish/index_spa.shtm (Spanish)
• http://www.fema.gov/kids/ (for kids)