Pandemic Planning for Public Employers
On October 23, 2009, President Obama declared a National Emergency in response to the widespread H1N1 flu outbreak. Cities and counties should have a strategic plan to insure their city or county is able to quickly respond to the pandemic as it develops in their own community.
Many cities and counties already have an emergency action plan in place to address major snowstorms, tornadoes, floods, or fires. With a few modifications it can be updated to apply to a pandemic.
Pre-planning and communication with employees is imperative to insure the workplace can continue operation during a pandemic. Minnesota state statute provides a back-drop for emergency management situations such as a pandemic. State statute provides during an emergency or disaster, a Minnesota city or county may do what they need to do to provide emergency assistance to citizens in their communities.
This includes temporarily suspending the usual formalities and restrictions of the law pertaining to contracts, incurring obligations, limitations on tax levies, and the expenditure of public funds. Provisions covering Civil Services Rules, and the purchase of supplies and materials are also suspended during the emergency. The objective of the law is to provide the means and authority for cities and counties to respond quickly to an emergency facing their community.
With some advanced planning, cities and counties will be able to respond to a pandemic and continue to provide municipal services to their communities.
