Neighborhood Watch
Pandemic Awareness
Community Training
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Partners
National Sheriffs’ Association
Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs,
U.S. Department of Justice
Citizen Corps
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Program Goal
To empower communities by providing
Neighborhood Watch groups and their
leaders with effective training on
Pandemic Influenza
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Module I: Overview
• Awareness
• Potential impact on communities
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The Challenge
“A severe pandemic influenza presents
a tremendous challenge as it may affect the lives
of millions of Americans, cause significant
numbers of illnesses and fatalities,
and substantially disrupt our economic
and social stability…Strong partnerships
and smart planning will be our best protection
against this threat.”
-Secretary Michael Chertoff,
Department of Homeland Security
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What is a Pandemic influenza?
Pandemic influenza is a global
disease outbreak caused by a
new influenza virus.
• The virus may spread quickly.
• Many people could be at risk of
illness.
• Historically, pandemics have
caused widespread harm and
death.
Nations with confirmed cases
of H5N1 avian influenza
(www.pandemicflu.gov)
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How is a pandemic flu different
from a seasonal flu?
• Seasonal flu is caused by viruses that
are already in existence among the
population, and is treatable by existing
vaccines.
• Pandemic influenza could begin with
an existing influenza virus that has
changed or mutated and then spread
from person to person, few of whom
would have natural immunity.
• A pandemic could severely affect a
broad set of the population, including
the young and the elderly.
• A severe pandemic could change daily
life for a time.
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Have there been influenza
pandemics in the past?
Influenza pandemics have occurred
throughout recorded history.
• About 30 influenza pandemics have been recorded.
• There were three influenza pandemics in
the last century.
• The most recent influenza pandemic was
the Hong Kong Influenza in 1968-69.
• The most serious was the 1918 pandemic,
which killed tens of millions of people worldwide,
and 675,000 in the United States.
www.pandemicflu.gov; www.cdc.gov
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When might a pandemic occur?
Pandemic influenza will occur again.
• Influenza viruses are constantly changing.
• Occasionally a new virus emerges that can
spread easily among humans.
• It is difficult to predict when the next pandemic
will occur, or how severe it will be.
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What is the “Bird Flu” that we have
been hearing so much about lately?
Scientists are concerned that the “bird flu” (H5N1 variant
avian influenza) in eastern Asia and other countries
could evolve into a virus capable of spreading
by human-to-human transmission.
of
• The virus is spreading to migratory birds in
new regions.
• More than 300 cases of bird-to-human H5N1
Influenza have been documented, with death
resulting in more than half the cases, and
severe illness in many others.
• It is believed that in a few cases, the
virus spread from one person to another.
www.pandemicflu.gov; World Health Organization
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How fast could the pandemic flu
spread?
A person can be infected and not realize it.
• Influenza is a contagious disease of the lungs,
and usually spreads by infected people coughing
and sneezing.
• Most people will have little or no immunity to
pandemic influenza.
• It is estimated that a pandemic virus could kill
hundreds of thousands of Americans, and that
some 40% of the workforce would be unavailable
for duty.
www.whitehouse.gov; www.pandemicflu.gov
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Impact on Communities
• Flu viruses occur in waves and may last from
six to eight weeks each until contained.
• Community centers or other public gathering places
must take special actions or may be forced to close.
• Transportation and food delivery
may be limited.
• Emergency personnel may not be available
for essential operations.
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Possible Effects
As with other emergencies, pandemic influenza
would affect everyday life.
Schools and businesses might be
closed during a pandemic influenza.
Travel could be limited
during a pandemic.
There might be spot shortages of supplies.
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National Impact
“If a pandemic hits our shores, it will affect
almost every sector in society, not just health care,
but transportation systems, workplaces, schools,
public safety and more. It will require
a coordinated government-wide response,
including Federal, State and local governments,
and it will require the private sector and all of us
as individuals to be ready.”
- Secretary Mike Leavitt,
Department of Health and Human Services
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Module II: General Community
Preparation and Protection
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Protection From the Flu
People should take common-sense actions
to keep from spreading germs:
• Cover coughs and sneezes, and
wash their hands frequently.
• Stay away from sick persons as much
as possible.
If you are sick,
you should keep away
from others as much
as possible.
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Shelter-in-place Plan
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Food/Water
Medication
Equipment (including medical equipment)
Supplies
Communications
Electricity/Power
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Shelter-in-place Home Supplies
Keep a supply of essential items such as food,
water, and medicine on hand at home.
Important supplies include:
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Medications and medical equipment
Easy-to-prepare food and bottled water
Pantry staples
Sanitizing agents
Emergency contact information
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Infection Control Policies
and Procedures
• Avoid contact with infected or contagious persons.
• Develop and implement effective infection control
policies and procedures.
• Provide education on good personal hygiene and
infection control.
• Provide infection control materials.
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Traveling
• Avoid traveling to infected areas.
• Keep personal contact to a minimum
in affected areas.
• Keep apprised of local news, announcements,
and warnings.
• Remember to wash hands frequently and take
infection control precautions.
Pandemic
luggage tag
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Know your Community Plan
Know the exact location of:
• Shelters
• Hospital/Medical/Triage Centers
• Vaccination locations
• Food/Water distribution centers
Be aware of:
• Evacuation routes
• Transportation
options
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Disease Containment and
Control Strategies
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Isolation
Quarantine
Social distancing
Closing places of assembly
Limiting or stopping volunteer work
Changes in movement patterns
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Community Information
• Stay informed about pandemic influenza through
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
www.cdc.gov, 1-800-311-3435, or at
www.pandemicflu.gov.
• Develop a neighborhood awareness and
education campaign. Utilize NW Toolkit flyers
and tools.
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Pandemic Module
Tools and Uses
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Protecting NW Volunteers Leaflet
Pandemic Planning Flipbook
Neighborhood Needs Assessment Form
Essential Neighborhood Functions Form
Special Needs Checklist
Response Team Roster
Emergency Information Folder Form
Adult and Child Detailed Information Forms
Emergency Responder Alert Magnet
Influenza Planning Checklist Card
Pandemic Protection Strategies Poster
Luggage/backpack Tag
Evacuation Leaflet
Shelter-in-Place Leaflet
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Summary
• Awareness and Impact
• Preparation and
Protection Strategies
• Tools and Uses
For more information, visit www.pandemicflu.gov
Other Resources:
National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza
available online at www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/nspi.pdf
Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza
available online at
www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/nspi_implementation.pdf
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