330 N.E. 10th Street

Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Phone: (405) 235-3669
Fax: (405) 235-3670
pandemic@okstatechamber.com

Dear Oklahoma Business Leaders,

Health experts warn of an impending pandemic with severe global consequences. It is our belief that the business community of our world can play a significant role in minimizing the impact, if we are prepared to protect our workforce and their families.

To this end, The State Chamber is proud to launch this comprehensive website to provide you with the tools to put in place a Pandemic Preparedness Plan for your company.

Please take some time to review the easy to follow links and send us any information of your ideas to improve the site.

If your company has a plan or information worthy of sharing, send us the link.

This project has been provided thanks to the support of State Chamber Champions in the fulfillment of our Mission: To Make Oklahoma the State of Choice for Business!

Stay Well,

Richard P. Rush, CCE
President and CEO

Not If, But When

“In the event of pandemic influenza, businesses will play a key role in protecting employees’ health and safety as well as limiting the negative impact to the economy and society. Planning for pandemic influenza is critical.”

(Quoted from Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention’s Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist, 12/6/2005: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/businesschecklist.html)

What is a Pandemic?

A pandemic is a global epidemic of an infectious disease. While there currently is no pandemic flu, words such as H5N1, bird flu and pandemic are commonly in the news these days, and are tossed about so frequently and casually the public is in danger of developing a resistance to their meaning or importance. Many do not know what they mean. Many do not realize the potential ramifications of a pandemic, or, more importantly, how to be effectively prepared to avert disaster. Many are scared. Some are terrified. Few are ready.

Most Oklahomans spend a third or more of their daily lives at work. The workplace is an effective arena to disseminate information to employees regarding their health and safety, and that of their families. If you are on this website, you are most likely either an owner or employee of an Oklahoma business.

This website is designed to serve as a resource for all those involved with, employed by, or providing services to all Oklahoma businesses. The definitions of key terms and concepts are provided, as well as information about and links to pandemic preparedness websites and sources for businesses and their employees to utilize to their best advantage.

Make sure you are ready, both mentally and logistically. You need to know that there is currently no pandemic flu. You need to know that avian flu is different from pandemic flu. You need to know that chickens cannot fly across the ocean and make you sick. But you do need to be ready.

Association for Contingency Planning

National website: www.acp-international.org
Oklahoma chapter information: http://www.acp-international.com/okla/

Don’t be scared…Be Prepared.