“Keep the Courts Open”

“Keep the Courts Open” Emergency Preparedness in the Florida State Courts

Presentation Overview • Court Preparedness Planning • Examples of Effective Court Preparedness Planning and Emergency Response • The Pandemic Influenza Threat

“Keep the Courts Open” Court Preparedness Planning

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

Chief Justice R. Fred Lewis Leadership “First and foremost is an open and operational courts system in the face of no matter what may occur….We must prepare, prepare, prepare. We must continue to do so.” -- From the Passing of the Gavel Ceremony, June 30, 2006

The Preparedness Planning Steps • Staffing • Emergency coordinating officers (ECO) and public information officers (PIO) • Connecting • Emergency management, law enforcement, local bar association, fire and rescue, health officials, etc. • Coordinating • CEMG and CEMT • Planning • Administrative and emergency procedures • Continuity of operations plans (COOP)

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 Administrative and Emergency Procedures Emergency Pending or Occurs A copy of this PowerPoint is available at www.flcourts.org (Click on “Emergency Preparedness”)

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 Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) COOP A copy of this PowerPoint is available at www.flcourts.org (Click on “Emergency Preparedness”)

“Keep the Courts Open” Examples of Effective Court Preparedness Planning and Emergency Response

Examples of the Impact of Hurricane Ivan M.C. Blanchard Courthouse in Pensacola Florida

The Primary Alternate Facility The Pensacola Civic Center

Courtrooms at the Alternate Facility Courtroom with Jury Box at the Alternate Facility

Mission Essential Functions at the Alternate Facility Justice Barbara J. Pariente visits Pensacola to Review the Response to Hurricane Ivan

Long-Term Alternate Facilities Judicial Trailer Park

Examples of the Impact of Hurricane Dennis Santa Rosa County Courthouse in Milton Florida

“Keep the Courts Open” The Pandemic Influenza Threat

A Unique Concern for Florida

Current Status WHO global influenza preparedness plan. World Health Organization. Switzerland: Department of Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response, 2005.

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

Wrestle with the Tough Issues • Legal Issues • Unsettled law, public health related cases, bench books, etc. • Personnel Issues • Leave, payroll, employee assistance, workers comp, etc. • Technology (no or limited face-to-face contact) • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • Employee Education and Family Preparedness (Two week supply?) • Jury • Testing and Exercising Plans

Questions or Comments FYI, some questions I hope you don’t ask: • Has every Florida court fully developed their plans? • Has implementation been like making sausage? • How have the Florida courts addressed NIMS compliance? • How have the Florida courts addressed respiratory protection programs and other PPE policy issues? • How do courts access DHS funds? • Which, if any, ESF do the courts fit into? • How do courts ensure they can protect their records? • What are your experiences with satellite phones? • Are the courts really that important in an emergency response? Contact Information: Greg Cowan 850-922-5460 or cowang@flcourts.org Additional Information: www.flcourts.org(Click on “Emergency Preparedness”)

“Keep the Courts Open”