Working Together to Prepare
Yesterday, I joined Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Education Secretary Arne Duncan in hosting the first-ever H1N1 Flu Summit at the National Institutes of Health. This summit brought together leaders from across government—federal, state, and local—and the public health community to continue our ongoing preparations and response to the H1N1 pandemic.
Experts say that the virus may return in a more virulent strain during this fall’s flu season. This isn’t a cause for panic; rather, it’s a chance to reinvigorate our preparedness efforts across the country.
The most critical steps to containing this virus won’t take place in Washington, they’ll take place in homes, schools, communities and businesses across the country.
Families should consider how they would take care of children if schools close. Businesses should have plans for employees to work from home if needed. State, local, and tribal governments and community organizations should have procedures in place to deal with a future outbreak.
I encourage everyone to visit www.flu.gov to learn more about the steps you can take and make sure you have the most accurate, up-to-date information.
Here at the Department of Homeland Security, we continue to work with President Obama, Congress, governors, mayors, state and local health departments, school districts, private sector partners and other federal agencies to develop a nation-wide plan that incorporates the lessons we learned this spring to prepare for the fall flu season.
H1N1 may return this fall, but with your help, we are doing everything possible to keep the country safe and healthy. Thank you for doing your part.
Janet Napolitano
Experts say that the virus may return in a more virulent strain during this fall’s flu season. This isn’t a cause for panic; rather, it’s a chance to reinvigorate our preparedness efforts across the country.
The most critical steps to containing this virus won’t take place in Washington, they’ll take place in homes, schools, communities and businesses across the country.
Families should consider how they would take care of children if schools close. Businesses should have plans for employees to work from home if needed. State, local, and tribal governments and community organizations should have procedures in place to deal with a future outbreak.
I encourage everyone to visit www.flu.gov to learn more about the steps you can take and make sure you have the most accurate, up-to-date information.
Here at the Department of Homeland Security, we continue to work with President Obama, Congress, governors, mayors, state and local health departments, school districts, private sector partners and other federal agencies to develop a nation-wide plan that incorporates the lessons we learned this spring to prepare for the fall flu season.
H1N1 may return this fall, but with your help, we are doing everything possible to keep the country safe and healthy. Thank you for doing your part.
Janet Napolitano
Labels: H1N1 Flu, partnerships, preparedness
posted by Homeland Security Blog Team at
2:30 PM
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1 Comments:
Are you doing everything possible? What about the FRL/SOS? Can you envision a scenario in which American citizens are confined to their homes because of a pandemic like H1N1 or worse? Can you see whereas the FRL/SOS would be highly desirable in such an event, as well as almost all hazardous, forewarned and no-notice events? Is the FRL/SOS too expensive? I can think of 787 billion reasons why that question shouldn't even be an issue.
The FRL/SOS is consistent with and conducive to: The National Response Framework, The National Incident Management System, Homeland Security Presidential Directives 5, 8, & 10, Preparedness and Response, and Search and Rescue. The advantage, benefit, wisdom, and necessity of the FRL/SOS are blatantly obvious.
Let's review the Government officials who received information regarding the FRL/SOS: The President of the United States, The Secretary of Homeland Security, The Homeland Security Advisory Council, The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, The Deputy Undersecretary for Oceans and Atmosphere of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, and the United States Senators and Governors from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
Anytime an American citizen puts forth a legitimate, innovative product idea and plan, which would create new jobs and save lives, to the United States Government: the intended recipients of that information should acknowledge receipt, evaluate the concept, and decide to accept or decline the submission;and then present that decision to the sender. This is a unique situation wherein the only responsible answer is- Yes. I'm still waiting.
They say good things come to those who wait, but the reality of history teaches us that very bad things can happen if we wait too long.
R S
By
Anonymous, At
July 11, 2009 2:44 PM
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