Results of a national review of state government pandemic influenza operating plans

The White House released the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza: Implementation Plan (May 2006) which clarifies roles and responsibilities for government and nongovernmental organizations and all levels of and sectors of society to prepare for an influenza pandemic. One of the action items was for the USG to review and score states' pandemic influenza plans. Congress charged similarly – in the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PL 109-417) - the USG to review and approve said plans. State health departments received $600M in pandemic influenza emergency supplemental funding to improve and exercise their state pandemic influenza plans. From August 2006 to January 2009 14 USG Departments and White House Offices collaborated to develop guidance and recommendations, provide consultation on myriad state government functions, review and score the operating plans, and provide feedback. The guidance and recommendations were specific to the three state government goals during an influenza pandemic – sustaining and continuing operations, responding to the pandemic's impact, and maintaining critical infrastructure/key assets. Throughout two and a half years and two stages of review encouraging progress was made with respect to some Operating Objectives. In some states leaders' understandings of their respective roles and responsibilities improved. However, much remains to be done regarding most Operating Objectives. While some states had well-developed plans to carry out their response functions, most were inadequately prepared to sustain the state agencies' operations and to support and protect the government workers required to respond to the pandemic.