Emergency preparedness

Book excerpt: The introduction and purpose provide the scope and background of the guide, as well as key principles of outbreak management and description and comparison of generic and specific contingency plans. Organizational arrangements cover legislation, command structure, training, outbreak exercises, consultation, resourcing, communications, documentation, and funding. Background information on the pest provides information on pest risk assessment. Official actions based on presumptive diagnosis include information about notification, escalation, triage and significance assessment including staff resourcing, imposition of measures and maintenance of trade. The chapter on official actions to eradicate the pest after confirmation of diagnosis includes area restrictions, movement controls, trace forward and trace back, delimitation and surveillance, legislation, treatments and other management measures, and engagement with stakeholders. Review of measures in cases of prolonged official actions considers establishing trigger points, auditing and considering how success is demonstrated. Determining completion of official action considers criteria for pest freedom and measures to maintain plant pest freedom. The chapter on recovery and compensation covers de-escalation, stakeholder support and compensation arrangements. Evaluation and revision of contingency plans considers lessons learned, consideration of gaps in the plan, revision of the plan, and implementation of lessons learned.