Elizabeth J. Danforth, University of South Florida, Annette Doying, Homeland Security Coordinator, Pasco County, Florida, Georges Merceron, Cities Readiness Initiative Coordinator, Pasco County Health Department and Laura Kennedy, Investigator, US Food and Drug Administration
Abstract
Pandemic influenza is a unique threat to communities, affecting schools, businesses, health facilities and individuals in ways not seen in other emergency events. This paper aims to outline a local government project which utilised public health and social science research methods to facilitate the creation of an emergency response plan for pandemic influenza coincidental to the early stages of the 2009 H1N1 (‘swine flu’) outbreak. A multi-disciplinary team coordinated the creation of a pandemic influenza emergency response plan which utilised emergency planning structure and concepts and encompassed a diverse array of county entities including schools, businesses, community organisations, government agencies and healthcare facilities. Lessons learned from this project focus on the need for (1) maintaining relationships forged during the planning process, (2) targeted public health messaging, (3) continual evolution of emergency plans, (4) mutual understanding of emergency management concepts by business and community leaders, and (5) regional coordination with entities outside county boundaries.
Keywords
pandemic influenza, emergency planning, community planning, social science methodology, multidisciplinary
Elizabeth Danforth was the Community Outreach Specialist for the Pasco County Pandemic Influenza Planning Project. She is currently a doctoral candidate in applied biocultural anthropology at the University of South Florida. She also holds a master’s degree in public health with a concentration in global health practice. She is currently collaborating with a clinic for low-income and uninsured people in northeast Iowa. Her project investigates social difference and demographic change in order to create a culturally-based public media campaign to provide adolescents with effective and positive health and nutrition messaging.
Annette Doying is the Homeland Security Coordinator for Pasco County, Florida. A professional emergency manager for 18 years, she has a broad range of experience in preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation activities. Mrs Doying holds an MA in applied forensic anthropology from the University of South Florida.
George Merceron is the Cities Readiness Initiative Coordinator for the Pasco County Health Department. As a graduate student at the University of South Florida, Mr Merceron is pursuing an MPH in global health — communicable diseases and an MA in applied medical anthropology. Since 2009, Mr Merceron has been involved in various planning projects including the Pasco County Biological Threat Incident Annex, Pasco County Catastrophic Incident Annex, Pasco County Post Disaster Redevelopment Plan, and Pasco County Strategic National Stockpile Plan.
Laura Kennedy is an investigator with the US Food and Drug Administration. She graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in biology and earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of South Florida, concentrating in tropical and communicable diseases and infection control. Ms Kennedy has studied parasitic diseases in Panama and has a particular interest in zoonotic diseases. She has experience at the county, state and federal levels in issues pertaining to public health and safety.
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