Pandemic Preparation Checklists for Preschools, Schools, and Colleges Secretary's Remarks Photos

Raleigh, N.C. — Acknowledging that pandemics happen and require a strong local response, Governor Michael Easley, Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, and Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt today addressed federal and local public health officials, business, education, and community leaders and the public about pandemic flu preparedness. Secretaries Leavitt and Spellings are in North Carolina as part of a national tour of states, as the federal government prepares the country for a potential influenza pandemic.

"Pandemics are global in nature but their effects are always local, so I am pleased that Governor Easley is taking a leadership role to prepare North Carolina for this threat," Secretary Leavitt said. "Pandemic planning needs to address how schools, businesses, public agencies, faith-based organizations and others participate in pandemic preparedness. With this meeting, local officials can identify needs specific to North Carolina communities and begin crucial coordination to assure readiness if a pandemic outbreak strikes."

At the summit, Secretary Leavitt and Secretary Spellings announced the release of three checklists to assist local schools in pandemic preparation; the checklists target child care and preschools, school districts (K-12), and colleges and universities. These checklists are the latest in a series of checklists that will help communities, businesses, and individuals prepare for a possible pandemic.

"At the federal level, we will do everything we can to make sure Americans have the resources and support they need in the event of a pandemic outbreak," said Secretary Spellings. "When it comes to preparing our school community—from pre-school all the way to college, there are three key steps to take: talk to health officials and work together to develop a plan; train staff to implement the plan and prepare; and teach students so that they know what to do in the event of a pandemic."

Governor Easley and Secretary Leavitt signed a planning resolution during the summit, agreeing to prepare the state for the possibility of a pandemic influenza. In the planning resolution, HHS committed to providing guidance and technical assistance to North Carolina and provided an initial amount of financial assistance for planning ($2,547,844). Also, HHS agreed to review the state's plans for use, storage and distribution of antivirals and notify it of its portion of the federal stockpile of pandemic influenza antiviral drugs. North Carolina agreed to assure that its operational plan for pandemic influenza response is an integral element of the overall state and local emergency response plan and to establish a Pandemic Preparedness Coordinating Committee representing all relevant stakeholders. The state will also exercise its preparedness plan within six months of today's summit.

"As one of the first states in the nation to create a response plan, North Carolina has been very aggressive in preparing for a pandemic," Easley said. "We know that a pandemic flu will not just affect one state or one region, it will affect the entire country. This summit is a good first step in our efforts to make sure every state in the nation is working together to be ready to lead the charge on the front lines."

Secretary Leavitt outlined a series of in-state summits to address pandemic preparedness December 5. Invited guests include first responders, business leaders, educators, health care providers, faith-based organizations, volunteer agencies, policy makers and others.

The in-state summits will help the public health and emergency response community in each state inform and involve their political, economic and community leadership in this process. Secretary Leavitt and other top HHS officials will participate in the meetings over the next few months. Along with the education checklists, HHS has prepared a state and local checklist, a business checklist, a guide for individuals and families, checklists for medical care providers and a checklist for faith-based organizations. The checklists were distributed at the summit.

More information on pandemic flu readiness is available at www.pandemicflu.gov.

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