“Keep the Courts Open”

1. “Keep the Courts Open” Florida State Courts Continuity of Operations Plan

2. Justice Anstead Justice Wells Justice Pariente Justice Lewis Leadership • We must deal with crises in a way that protects the health and safety of everyone inside our facilities • We must “keep the courts open” to ensure justice for the people Chief Justices of the Florida Supreme Court, 9/11 to Present

3. Staff Dedicated to the Initiative • Emergency Coordinating Officer (ECO) • Public Information Officer (PIO) • A branch-wide ECO and PIO • Alternates for each ECO and PIO

4. Practical Tools • The Process for Responding to Emergencies • Administrative and Emergency Procedures • Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) • The Court Emergency Management Group (CEMG) • The CEMG represents a policy group • The Eight Fill in the Blank Templates • The Court Emergency Management Team (CEMT) • The CEMT represents an operational team

5. Initial Response to Emergencies Will be Outlined and Should be Followed Based on the Administrative and Emergency Procedures An Individual or Group will make an Initial Assessment as to Whether or Not the Primary Facility Needs to be Closed Does Emergency Cause the Closure of Primary Facility? Immediately No Yes Handle the Emergency Situation as Outlined in the Administrative and Emergency Procedures Yes Is the Length of the Closure Minimal and Acceptable? No Address Emergency and Resume Full Operations in Primary Facility Address Emergency and Resume Full Operations in Primary Facility COOP Process under the Administrative and Emergency Procedures Emergency Pending or Occurs A copy of this PowerPoint is available at www.flcourts.org (Click on “Emergency Preparedness”)

6. An Individual or Group will Assess Whether or Not Full Operations in the Primary Facility can be Reconstituted within 30 Days of COOP Activation Activate COOP and Begin the Process toward Performance of Mission Essential Functions in a Predetermined and Temporary Alternate Facility Can Full Operations in Primary Facility be Reconstituted in 30 Days? Immediately Yes No Immediately Begin Efforts to Reconstitute Full Operations within 30 Days in a Long-Term Alternate Facility Perform Mission Essential Functions under the COOP on a Temporary Basis Perform Mission Essential Functions under the COOP on a Temporary Basis Transfer Back into Full Operations in the Primary Facility Full Operations in a Long-Term Alternate Facility Initiated within 30 Days Process under the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) COOP A copy of this PowerPoint is available at www.flcourts.org (Click on “Emergency Preparedness”)

7. “Keep the Courts Open” Appendix: Preparing for a Pandemic

8. Planning Efforts related to Pandemic Influenza • Florida State Courts Strategy for Pandemic Influenza • Endorsed March 29, 2006 • Statewide training event held on June 26, 2006 in Orlando • Stockpiling emergency supplies • Coordination with the Florida Department of Health and other stakeholders is ongoing A copy of the Strategy is available at www.flcourts.org (Click on “Emergency Preparedness”)

9. Elements of the Florida State Courts Strategy for Pandemic Influenza • Seven planning tasks with detailed subtasks • A process flowcharting the specific steps and decisions for responding to an influenza pandemic • Short-term and long-term tactical objectives • Reasserted strategic policy goals A copy of the Strategy is available at www.flcourts.org (Click on “Emergency Preparedness”)

10. Leads to Leads to Leads to Relationship Between the Elements of the Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Improved Capacity to Achieve the Strategic Goals Improved Capacity to Achieve the Tactical Objectives Improved Capacity to Implement the Process Complete the Seven Planning Tasks A copy of the Strategy is available at www.flcourts.org (Click on “Emergency Preparedness”)

11. Questions or Comments FYI, some questions I hope you don’t ask: • Has every Florida state court fully developed their plans? • Has implementation been like making sausage? • How have the Florida State Courts addressed NIMS compliance? • How do courts ensure they can protect their records? • Are the courts really that important in an emergency response? Contact Information: Greg Cowan 850-922-5460 or 850-509-1578 cowang@flcourts.org Additional Information: www.flcourts.org(Click on “Emergency Preparedness”)