The centerpiece of the project will be a year-long series of regional tabletop exercises, which will test federal, state and local preparedness; enhance coordination among all levels of government; build relationships among those responsible for critical decisions during a pandemic; and identify and rectify gaps in federal, state and local plans. Each exercise will involve state teams chosen by the governor and representing such functions as public health, homeland security, public safety, agriculture, education, emergency communications and the private sector. The NGA Center will publish after-action reports on each exercise and issue a final report on national pandemic preparedness at the close of the project.
These tabletop exercises will incorporate input gathered during state pandemic preparedness summits hosted by Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and the nation's governors earlier this year. The project represents a logical next step for states: ensuring the integration of their state pandemic influenza preparedness plans with federal and local plans, coordinating response plans across state lines and encouraging individuals and all levels of government to develop comprehensive preparedness strategies.
In July, the NGA Center released Preparing for a Pandemic Influenza: A Primer for Governors and Senior State Officials, which examines key issues governors and their top officials may face should a pandemic occur. Among its recommendations, the report encourages states to perform training exercises to assess current capabilities and explore effective operations for incident response. According to the report, "Initiating even the most basic exercises now will save lives during a future incident."
"By their nature, pandemics happen across the globe -- but their effects are excruciatingly local," said U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt. "Pandemic planning needs to go beyond public health. Discussion at the state and local level needs to address how schools, businesses, public agencies and others participate in pandemic preparedness. This regional exercise program is a critical step in helping state and local leaders to assure their readiness and to integrate our collective efforts if a pandemic outbreak strikes. Every step we take together now will save lives later."
NGA Chair Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, who served as co-lead governor on pandemic influenza preparedness, noted that pandemic influenza planning is important even if a pandemic does not occur in the near future or is less severe than worst-case scenario projections. "The benefit of preparing for a potential pandemic is that we develop the strategies and capacities we will need in the event of a major disaster, whether a pandemic, natural disaster or major terrorist attack," Napolitano said. "Continuity of government, maintenance of essential services and involving the entire community in preparing for and responding to threats are fundamental components of emergency preparedness. The opportunity for state teams to work with each other and local and federal officials on these issues will pay dividends for everyone involved."
NGA Vice Chair Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who also served as co-lead governor on pandemic influenza preparedness, said the Center project will provide an excellent opportunity for states to work together to ensure a seamless response to a pandemic. "Diseases do not respect political or jurisdictional boundaries. It is essential as we prepare for a potential pandemic influenza to look beyond our borders to ensure our plans and strategies are aligned," Pawlenty said. "The tabletop exercises planned by NGA will give state officials an opportunity to learn from each other, share ideas and work with their federal and state partners to improve our preparedness on a national level. I look forward to working with NGA and my fellow governors on this important project."
The Center for Best Practices is managing the project with funding from the Department of Health and Human Services and in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Defense University and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
