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Emergency Preparedness & Disaster Recovery

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Continuity of Court Operations (COOP)

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Links to related online resources are listed below. Non-digitized publications may be borrowed from the NCSC Library; call numbers are provided.

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Emergency Management & Court Security

NCSC Area of Expertise.

``COOP Planning: Maintaining the Rule of Law`` Pandemic Planning for Courts. A Video produced by the Institute of Court Management. 
Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) NCSC, in conjunction with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, has developed a COOP project to ensure that courts know what to do if faced with an emergency that threatens continuation of normal operations.  
Emergency Management: Courts and the Preservation of the Rule of Law Emergency Management: Courts and the Preservation of the Rule of Law is an in-person course offered by the Institute of Court Management.  The course is on September 22, 2010.
NACM Justice Achievement Awards

A compilation of the National Association for Court Management's Justice Achievement Awards from 2000-2011.

General

Moed, Edward. A Crisis Plan Is a Must Have for Every Company. (Fall 2002). Disaster Recovery Journal, 15, No. 4 This article describes the need for a crisis plan and illustrates several past newsworthy events where companies either needed or successfully used a crisis management plan.  Several "dos and don'ts" for handing a crisis are discussed. (KF8733.7 .A15 C68 2007)
A Framework for Improving Cross-Sector Coordination for Emergency Preparedness and Response: Actions Steps for Public Health, Law Enforcement, the Judiciary and Corrections. (July 2008). McKing Consulting Corporation Disaster preparedness plans have the potential to protect at-risk populations from harm and maintain or quickly restore the routines and functions of civil society. But even the most thorough and prescient plan will fall short if it does not reach across professional jurisdictions and agencies.  This framework document is designed to be a starting point for setting forth the major gaps and problems in cross-sectoral and cross-jurisdictional emergency preparedness planning as well as some key opportunities for addressing them.
Bernardino, Arthur J., Jr. et al. Business Continuity Management Mini Guide. (2006). Williamsburg, Va.: National Association of Court Management "This guide attempts to provide guidance and assistance to courts in their planning and actual efforts to prepare a business continuity management (BCM) plan or continuity of operations plan (COOP).  This includes posing the questions and issues that should be asked and answered to enable courts to adequately prepare for disasters of all sizes."--Intro.  (KF 8733.7 .Z9 B87 2006).  Note: May be ordered from NACM.  
Critical Incident Protocol: A Public and Private Partnership. (2000). East Lansing, MI.: Michigan State University This publication discusses the essential and beneficial process of the public and private sectors working together to plan for emergencies. Important elements include planning, mitigation, business recovery, lessons learned, best practices, and plan exercising. Whether it is a minor incident or a major terrorist activity involving weapons of mass destruction, the community’s collective resources must unite and work to understand the processes necessary to resolve the matter.
Baehler, Aimee, and Douglas K. Somerlot. Developing and Evaluating Courthouse Security and Disaster Preparedness. (2005). Denver CO: Justice Management Institute This report is a collaborative process between State and Federal Courts with curriculum materials.  It provides court and justice system leaders and judicial branch educators and managers with information about the planning, presentation, and impact of the workshop, which can be used as a foundation for their own security and business-continuity efforts.
Buntin, John. Disaster Master. (December 2001). Governing 15, No. 3 The author describes California's success with the Incident Command System (ICS) and how this management template can be adapted for a variety of emergency situations. A description of the key elements of ICS is discussed along with its growth in several states. (KF8733.7 .A15 C68 2007)
Strandberg, Keith W. Disaster Preparedness. (January 2006). Courts Today 4, No. 1 An overview of guidelines and recommendations for courts in preparing business continuity and emergency preparedness plans.  (KF8733.7 .A15 C68 2007)
Disaster Recovery Planning for Courts: A Guide to Business Continuity Planning. (2000). Williamsburg, Va.: National Association for Court Management A compendium designed to help judges, court managers, and staff step through the planning process to prepare their courts to keep business operations up and running, even in a disaster. Included are actual disaster case studies from jurisdictions across the country.
Ernest B. Abbot, Chair. Draft Checklist for State and Local Government Attorneys to Prepare for Possible Disasters. (2003). American Bar Association Task Force on Emergency Management and Homeland Security Checklist of issues, policies, and legal questions to be addressed under emergency conditions.
Emergency Management Guide for Business and Industry: A Step-by-Step Approach to Emergency Planning, Response and Recovery for Companies of All Sizes. (1993). Washington, D.C.: Federal Emergency Management Agency General recommendations and steps for establishing comprehensive emergency plans. Designed as an all-purpose guide for any type of business.
Sullivan, Sandra. How to Work When the Workplace Is Not Available. (Fall 2002). Disaster Recovery Journal 15, No. 4 When your workplace is not available do you have a "Plan B" work plan to continue the business of your organization?  The first step of any preparedness program is to evacuate a building that poses a potential danger.  This article discusses the second step of how to resume a level of productivity when the workplace may not be available for some time. (KF8733.7 .A15 C68 2007)
Hastings, Allison L. Impact of 9/11 and Other Emergency Situations on Court Administration: Report of Survey of Local Trial Courts. (2003). Washington, D.C.: Justice Programs Office, School of Public Affairs, American University Summary report of results from an exploratory survey of local trial courts on the effects of September 11, 2001, on emergency planning.  (HV551.3 .H37 2003)
NFPA 1600 - Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs. (2007). National Fire Protection Association The NFPA provides a standardized basis for disaster/emergency management planning and business continuity programs in private and public sectors by illustrating common program elements, techniques, and processes.
Position Paper on Emergency Preparedness in the State Courts. (December 2006). Conference of State Court Administrators "The goal of this paper is to identify what state court leaders should be doing to ensure their court systems are able to meet this responsibility in the future.  It identifies key policies and practices designed to promote effective emergency planning and business continuity in their jurisdictions."--Intro
Sikich, Geary W. Sept. 11 Aftermath: Seven Things Your Organization Can Do Now. (Winter 2002). Disaster Recovery Journal 15, No. 1 The importance of being prepared for an emergency cannot be stressed enough.  Seven actions can be taken now to prepare for an emergency: make your enterprise an unattractive target; revise employee screening processes; validate business, community, and government contacts; assess business continuity plans; train and educate your workforce; equip your workforce; and communicate commitment. (KF8733.7 .A15 C68 2007)
Greb, David. Ten Suggested Commandments of Business Continuity Planning. (Winter 2001). Disaster Recovery Journal 14, No. 1 Although there are many considerations when planning for business continuity, the author proposes "10 commandments" which he believes are the essential elements of business continuity planning. (KF8733.7 .A15 C68 2007)
Redmond, Michael C., and James Hammill. The Challenge of Getting Back to Business: Business Recovery Checklist. (Winter 2002). Disaster Recovery Journal 15, No. 1 After any type of disaster, getting back to business is a challenge.  The authors provide a short checklist of key management considerations to use as a reference guide when getting "back to business." (KF8733.7 .A15 C68 2007)
Glenn, John. What Is Business Continuity Planning? How Does It Differ from Disaster Recovery Planning?. (Winter 2002). Disaster Recovery Journal 15, No. 1 This article describes the purpose of business continuity and what a business continuity plan is intended to accomplish.  Among the things a good business continuity plan should contain is a business impact analysis (BIA), a disaster recovery plan, disaster recovery team training and testing, and plan maintenance. (KF8733.7 .A15 C68 2007)
When Disaster Strikes, Will Your Court Be Ready?. (1998). Judges` Journal 37, No. 4 This volume of Judges Journal contains several articles concerning disaster management and recovery:  "The Effect of Disasters on Courts: An Introduction"; "Disasters and the Courts' Agenda"; "Understanding Disasters and Other Impacts on Courts: Overview, Comparisons, and Propositions"; "A Case of Judicial Restoration: A Court System Responds to and Recovers from the Red River Flood of 1997"; "After the Winds: Hurricane Andrew's Impact on Judicial Institutions in South Florida"; and "Disruption, Dislocation, Discretion, and Dependence: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Loma Prieta Earthquake." (KF200 .A456 V.37 1998)

Preparedness and the ADA

An ADA Guide for Local Governments: Making Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities. U.S. Department of Justice, Disability Rights Section One of the most important roles of local government is to protect their citizenry from harm, including helping people prepare for and respond to emergencies. Making local government emergency preparedness and response programs accessible to people with disabilities is a critical part of this responsibility. This guide provides a good resource for those persons responsible for their community’s emergency planning or emergency response activities and illustrates how you should involve people with disabilities in identifying needs and evaluating effective emergency management practices.
Emergency Evacuation of People with Physical Disabilities From Buildings. (2005). U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C., Interagency Committee on Disability Research; 2004 Conference Proceeding This conference provided a forum for leaders, first responders, industry representatives, people with physical disabilities, and others to discuss the impact of building and life safety codes on the evacuation of people with physical disabilities from buildings, the current evacuation procedures for people with physical disabilities from the first-responder perspective, the experiences of people with physical disabilities during emergency evacuations from buildings, the design and development of different types of evacuation devices, and the current state of research on mobility equipment, human factors, and egress modeling.
Emergency Preparedness Initiative. National Organization on Disability The National Organization on Disability has produced this Web site as a valuable resource for their Emergency Preparedness Initiative.  It contains the latest news and alerts, as well as resources concerning emergency preparedness and persons with disabilities.

Court Plans

2006 Disaster Recovery Template: A Guide to Preparedness. (2006). Louisiana District Judges Association This resource is a model template that courts can use to develop their own continuity of operations plan.  Included are stories from affected courts outlining their experiences during Hurricanes Rita and Katrina and their efforts to recover from those disasters.
Alaska Court System Continuity of Operations Plan. (October 2007). Alaska Supreme Court Emergency Response Planning Committee This Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) has been developed to document tasks, support, and materials needed should a disaster situation impact any Alaska court location.  It provides templates and additional information to assist local courts in developing local emergency response plans.
Aroostook County Houlton Courthouse Emergency Preparedness Plan. (February 2008). Maine: Aroostook County Commissioners The intent of the Emergency Preparedness Plan for the Aroostook County Houlton Courthouse is to provide a safe working environment for County employees and for other citizens that visit the complex for government services, and to provide a stable continuity of government during and after a disaster or emergency situation. The guidelines developed hereupon are for the safety of all employees and/or visitors to the Aroostook County Houlton Courthouse.
Cedar County Clerk of Court Disaster and Response Recovery Plan. (July 2002). Cedar County, Iowa: Cedar County Clerk of Court This plan outlines the efforts of the clerk of court to keep the court in operation in the event of an emergency.  Included is an emergency equipment, supplies, and judicial inventory checklist.  (KFI4710.5 .A3 C43 2002)
Continuity of Operations (COOP): Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court. (May 2007). Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court "This plan establishes policy and guidance to ensure the execution of the essential functions for the Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court in the event that an emergency threatens or incapacitates operations, and the relocation of selected personnel and functions of the Court is required. Specifically, the plan is designed to ensure that the Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court is prepared to respond to emergencies, recover from them, and mitigate against their impacts and ensure that the Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court is prepared to provide critical services in an environment that is threatened, diminished, or incapacitated."--Executive Summary.
Continuity of Operations (COOP) Planning: A Toolkit for Pennsylvania Courts. (May 2009). Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts and the University of Pittsburgh Center for Public Health Preparedness To assist Pennsylvania judges and District Court administrators in creating COOP plans tailored to their local needs, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts convened a court COOP planning team. Using the NCSC COOP planning guide as a model, this team created a planning guide that has integrated the statutory and regulatory requirements which Pennsylvania courts must meet in order to maintain the functions that are critical to the preservation of life, liberty, and safety.
Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP): Information and Instructions. (June 2007). Judicial Council of California In the wake of recent events, courts have been preparing for emergencies by developing effective and realistic plans.  A COOP is a vital part of an emergency preparedness plan.  This resource outlines the steps that California courts should take to adequately prepare and handle emergencies and disasters. (KFC958 .Z9 C66 2007)
Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP): Nebraska State Supreme Court System. (April 2007). Nebraska Administrative Office of the Courts This Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) template establishes a framework for a workable plan to ensure the execution of the mission essential functions for a County Court in the event that an emergency in county/state/nation threatens or incapacitates operations, and the relocation of selected personnel and functions to an alternate facility is required.   
Court Continuity of Operations (COOP) Program Guide. (2009). The Supreme Court of Ohio An important element in preparing for emergencies and disasters is addressing the continued performance of essential court functions in the event normal operations at the court’s primary facility are disrupted. To this end, a well-designed and comprehensive continuity of operations (“COOP”) plan can ensure court personnel, facilities and systems are prepared to survive the initial effects of an emergency or disaster and alternate work facilities are available to provide the necessary infrastructure to continue operations. The Ohio Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Court Security and Emergency Preparedness, with the assistance of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, developed this Court Continuity of Operations (COOP) Program Guide. The guide brings together many different source documents to ease the burden of sifting through COOP-related literature. Additionally, the guide facilitates COOP planning between the court and other local governmental entities.
Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Procedures Manual. (2002). Tallahassee: Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, Administrative Office of the Courts A sample manual covering a wide array of emergency procedures: communications, civil disturbances, bomb threats, pre-hurricane preparation, disaster recovery, anthrax and other biological agents, and court facility closings. The appendices include several forms and examples of emergency contact lists. (HV551.4 .F6 2002)
Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning Manual. (2003). New York State Unified Court System This guide identifies the tasks and issues that must be addressed to ensure that the courts are prepared for a broad range of emergencies.
Emergency Preparedness Standards for the Illinois Circuit Courts. (January 2009). Illinois Administrative Office of the Courts The Emergency Preparedness Standards for the Illinois Circuit Courts is an official policy of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. The Standards are designed to define the minimum requirements critical to ensure continued operation of the courts and the safety of court personnel and the public. Each circuit is required to develop an emergency preparedness plan which demonstrates its compliance with the Standards. Instructions and templates are provided to simplify the process and encourage uniformity while still allowing for the diverse nature of Illinois counties and circuits.
Facility Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan Template. (March 2003). New York State Unified Court System A template for use by courts, this plan “establishes policy and guidance to ensure the execution of the mission essential functions.” The plan is designed to protect employees and court users, safeguard the court’s records and property, continue court operations, ensure the court is prepared to respond to and recover form emergencies, and ensure that the court is prepared to provide its services in a threatened or diminished environment.
Flood Emergency Court-Related Links. North Dakota Supreme Court Site contains administrative orders relating to emergency extension of deadlines and change in location of court; emergency relocation information for county offices; and federal court notices and proceedings, all dating from the Grand Forks flooding in 1997.
Keep the Courts Open. (2002). Tallahassee: Florida Supreme Court Workgroup on Emergency Preparedness Guidelines for use by judges and court executives when writing emergency-preparedness plans. These guidelines were developed by a multidisciplinary workgroup, with members from the judicial and executive branches of Florida’s government.
Michigan Court Security Manual. (2002). Lansing: Michigan Supreme Court, State Court Administrative Office Manual containing planning strategies, procedures for specific emergencies, checklists, and detailed appendices.
Siegel, Lawrence et al. Planning for Emergencies: Immediate Events and Their Aftermath. (2005). Washington, D.C.: Justice Programs Office, School of Public Affairs, American University A Guideline for Local Courts "is designed for use by courts in rural and smaller populated areas to highlight issues and considerations relevant to court emergency and disaster preparedness planning. The Guideline is intended to provide a framework for courts to develop preparedness plans that can be activated to address both the immediate impact of emergency situations as well as ensure the continuity of court operations over a protracted period of time."--Intro.
Preparing for the Unthinkable: A Report to the Arizona Judicial Council. (2003). Phoenix: Arizona Supreme Court Report and Recommendations Committee on Court Security and Emergency Preparedness This resource contains guidelines developed by the Arizona Judicial Council for emergency management and court security planning. It includes sample forms.

County and Regional Plans

Gibb, John R. Empire County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. (2004). New York: New York State Emergency Office Sample plan for county officials developing emergency management plans.
Florida Business Disaster Survival Kit: Business Continuity Planning in Today`s World. (2004). Tampa, FL.: Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council Provides an overview of business-continuity planning, hazard analysis and response guide specific to Florida, recovery and mitigation strategies, and a preparedness info center with local contacts.

Preserving Records Libraries

Conservation Online: Resources for Conservation Professionals. Stanford University Libraries CoOL, a project of the Preservation Department of Stanford University Libraries, is a full-text library of conservation information, covering a wide spectrum of topics of interest to those involved with the conservation of library, archives and museum materials. Includes a list of commercial services, suppliers, etc.
Disaster Planning Manual. (August 2002). New York State Unified Court System This manual is designed to "assist court personnel in exercising their records custodial responsibilities and allow those who utilize our court system to maintain a proper history of their court actions." Records maintenance, emergency response, recovery and salvage, and how disasters affect records are all described in this resource.
Fox, Lisa L. Disaster Preparedness Workbook for U.S. Navy Libraries and Archives. (November 1998). "This workbook focuses on the disaster related needs of librarians, archivists, and records managers in documentary collections--that is, in collections of printed documents, magnetic media, electronic records, and so on" and "provides basic information and instructions as well as a template that personnel can use to write their own plans."--Preface. It contains a large appendix with sample forms that can be modified for use by your court or law library.
Disaster Response and Recovery. The National Archives The National Archives preservation and archive professionals provide some tips for disaster response and recovery as it relates to vital records and documents.  They suggest that a "pro-active rather than re-active approach to disaster preparation is the best means of mitigating damage from natural disasters or other forms of destruction. However, despite systematic planning efforts, when emergencies do occur — whether they are small scale or catastrophic — they can be overwhelming."  This Web site provides information and guidance on recovering various types of record materials.
How to Create a Vital Records Protection Plan. (June 2003). New York State Unified Court System The purpose of a Vital Records Protection Plan is to identify and protect those essential records that are needed by a court system in order to continue normal operations before, during, and after emergencies. By realizing the importance of these records for continuing your court’s or office functions and arranging for the protection of these records, you will be able to save valuable time and resources after a disaster or emergency. This will enable you to concentrate on restoring operations rather than spending time and money trying to restore information necessary to continue operations.
Library Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Plan. University of Virginia Succinct guidelines for the recovery and salvage of damaged paper, microfilm, photographic, and electronic records. 
Northeast Document Conservation Center. The NEDCC is a leader in the field of document preservation and conservation. Their Web site offers a great deal of information on all aspects of these related fields, including technical papers, instructional material, information on workshops and other educational opportunities, sources for preservation funding, and preservation and conservation services.
Lowell, Howard P. Protecting Court Records: Disaster Preparedness for Court Managers. (1993). Court Manager 8, No. 1 The first paragraph outlines three reasons for court managers to plan for disasters. "Disasters happen.  Destruction of records and loss of vital information often result from these disasters. Court managers, as custodians of important records that bear on the successful and impartial administration of justice, have a responsibility to safeguard these records from such loss or destruction."  This article discusses the ways a court manager can prepare for disaster and mitigate the damage to records.
Records and Document Recovery Techniques. Florida State Library and Archives The Florida State Library and Archives provides a simple yet valuable chart outlining the different types of materials that may be water damaged in a disaster and the recommended methods of recovery.   
Records Management Disaster Planning Guideline. (June 2007). State Records of South Australia Records Management Disaster Planning Guideline provides a generic plan for the development of a Disaster Plan for records and recordkeeping systems.
Records Management Disaster Planning Toolkit. (June 2007). State Records of South Australia The purpose of this Records Management Disaster Planning Toolkit is to assist agencies in developing and maintaining a disaster plan for records and recordkeeping systems. It contains templates, flowcharts and checklists that can be completed by agencies in the course of developing their plans. Agencies are encouraged to use this Toolkit in conjunction with the Records Management Disaster Planning Guideline.
Safeguarding a Nation`s Identity: The Readiness of State Archives to Protect the Records That Identify Who We Are, Secure Our Rights, and Tell Our Story as a Nation. (February 2007). Council of State Archivists This report is the culmination of the first phase of a long-term initiative to address statewide emergency preparedness for archives and records throughout the nation. The Emergency Preparedness Initiative, led by the Council of State Archivists, was prompted by the devastating impact of the 2005 hurricane season on records and archives. This report details the readiness of state archives to handle disasters.
Farrell, Kathleen. Safeguarding Court Records: Paper, Microfiche and Automated Data. United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York A brief, but pointed outline of how to deal with water-damaged and mold-infested records in various formats, along with a section on biological-hazard contamination of records.
Wet Collection Recovery. National Park Service. Harpers Ferry Center The National Park Service has provided an online presentation of methods to recover your vital records in the event they are damaged by water. Included in the presentation is a disaster-recovery checklist, a list of necessary emergency supplies, and further resources on the topic.

Preserving Technology

Hiatt, Charlotte J. A Primer for Disaster Recovery Planning in an IT Environment. (2000). Hershey, Pa.: Idea Group Publishers This book "is intended to help businesses plan for an occurrence that could mean a business stoppage. It helps you to evaluate your business in terms of vulnerability to disaster and guides you through the process of creating a disaster recovery plan."--back cover. (HF5548.37 .H5 2000)
Swanson, Marianne et al. Contingency Planning Guide for Information Technology Systems. (June 2002). Washington, D.C.: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce "This document provides guidance to individuals responsible for preparing and maintaining IT contingency plans. The document discusses essential contingency plan elements and processes, highlights specific considerations and concerns associated with contingency planning for various types of IT systems, and provides examples to assist readers in developing their own IT contingency plans."--Intro.
Diamond, Cindy. Disaster Planning for Data Security. (March 2002). Practice Innovations 3, No. 1 The value of proper planning for emergencies and important tasks in continuity planning are discussed in regards to electronic data.  Frequent and proper off-site storage of electronic information is vital for business continuity.
Patterson, Pat. Disaster Recovery Planning for Technology. (2007). Court Information Technology Officers Consortium: Technology Experience Bulletin, TEB: 2007-02 This short article presents an outline for developing an effective Disaster Recovery Plan for your organization’s technology. Since many organizations are dependent on technology, this article contains key principles which should be considered as part of any planning for the recovery and continuity of technology systems after an emergency or disaster.
Florida Courts Technology Commission Report to the Supreme Court of Florida Regarding Court Technology Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning. (December 2002). Florida Courts Technology Commission The Commission identified and approved six of the twenty-three recommendations in the Emergency Preparedness Report as directly and specifically relating to emergency preparedness. These recommendations were acknowledged by the Commission as recommended interim guidelines for Court Emergency Preparedness Plans. The Commission also considered seventeen other Emergency Preparedness Report technology recommendations in addressing its longer-term goal of developing an overall Judicial Branch Information Security Program. A list of all twenty-three recommendations referred by the Court can be found in this report.
Recovery and Restoration: A Sample Plan. (2000). National Association for Court Management This is a resource contained within the NACM Disaster Recovery Planning for the Courts: A Guide to Business Continuity Planning.  This  sample plan for technology is provided by the Arizona Supreme Court's Recovery Guide for its automated systems. Although not a substitute for individual court planning, this sample document illustrates a useful approach to the restoration management process.

Public Health

Arizona Court Response to Public Health Emergencies. (June 2008). Phoenix: Arizona Supreme Court Report and Recommendations Committee on Court Security and Emergency Preparedness In December 2003, the Committee on Court Security and Emergency Preparedness issued a report Preparing for the Unthinkable (see above). That report focused on court emergency response planning and security. It provided the courts a structure from which to develop an emergency response plan. This supplement to the original report expands its scope in two significant ways. First, it asks the courts to extend their planning process from emergency response into continuity of operations planning. Second, it expands the range of emergency scenarios to include pandemics which could impact the courts in a markedly different manner than other disasters.
Arkansas Supreme Court Statement on H1N1 Virus and the Courts. (2009). Arkansas Supreme Court This document attempts to provide Arkansas courts with guidance on how to prepare and respond in the event that the H1N1 disease spreads over a length of time. The two main goals of a judicial pandemic planning are: 1. Operating in a way that protects the health and safety of everyone at court facilities; and 2. Keeping the courts open to ensure justice for the people we serve.
Coordinated Implementation of Community Response Measures (Including Social Distancing) to Control the Spread of Pandemic Respiratory Disease: A Guide for Developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Public Health, Law Enforcement, Corrections, and the Judiciary. (July 2008). Public Health and Law Enforcement Emergency Preparedness Workgroup Among the many lessons of recent emergency response efforts is the realization that no sector or jurisdiction is likely to face a major disaster or its aftermath alone. While emergency preparedness plans aim to maintain or quickly restore the routines and functions of civil society, even the most thorough and prescient plan will fall short if it does not span jurisdictions, sectors, agencies, and organizations. This document provides guidance for consideration by state, tribal, local, and other jurisdictions when addressing planning efforts to coordinate cross-sector implementation of community responses (including social distancing) to prevent or limit the spread of a severe, contagious respiratory disease such as pandemic influenza.
Courthouse Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies: Critical Issues for Bioterror/Biohazard Preparedness Planning. (January 2006). Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Administrative Office of the Courts "This resource provides information that courthouse personnel need to know if faced with a potential biohazard/bioterror event and what they will need to know to adequately plan for effective response to such an event in the future."--Intro.  The information contained in this resource was based upon experience dealing with possible biohazard threats to the Pennsylvania courts.
Epidemics and the California Courts. (October 2006). Judicial Council of California This is a resource for the courts as they create and continue to enhance their continuity-of-operations plans and emergency protocols.  This guide provides important information that judges and court administrators should know about epidemics and pandemics and how to prepare and respond adequately to them.
Florida State Courts Strategy for Pandemic Influenza: Keeping the Courts Open in a Pandemic. (March 2006). Unified Supreme Court/Branch Court Management Group This resource outlines the strategic goals of the Florida state courts in the event of a pandemic, i.e., how to deal with the crisis in a way that protects the health and safety of those using the courts and keeps the courts open to ensure justice.  The appendix contains a chart of the pandemic-response process, as well as forms and checklists for developing a plan. 
Guidelines for Pandemic Emergency Preparedness Planning: A Road Map for the Courts. (April 2007). Washington, D.C.: American University Criminal Courts Technical Assistance Project

"This publication was developed to encourage court planners throughout America to consider possible issues the court may face and how to solve them-in advance of a pandemic"--forward. This resource is a framework that can be used by courts to develop pandemic emergency plans.
Justice and Public Health Systems Planning: Confronting a Pandemic Outbreak: Report of Symposium Discussions: Strategies, Practices and Protocols. (February 2007). Bureau of Justice Assistance The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), facilitated a symposium on May 24–25, 2006 in Chicago, Illinois entitled "Justice and Public Health Systems Planning: Confronting a Pandemic Outbreak," which brought together experts within the justice and public health communities to collaborate and prepare to confront this public health threat to America’s communities. This report summarizes the principal strategies participants discussed at the symposium and provides the resulting recommended practices and protocols.
Pandemic Influenza Benchguide: Legal Issues Concerning Quarantine and Isolation. (2007). Florida Court Education Council "This benchguide was designed to serve as an educational resource for the courts in the event of a pandemic influenza or an analogous situation."--Purpose.  The Publications Committee of the Florida Court Education Council designed this benchguide to be a purposeful, concise, and practical repository of information that judges and attorneys can utilize in court proceedings.  
Pandemic Influenza--Online Presentations. These presentations are provided by The Bureau of Justice Assistance and offer access to online resources that introduce the importance of pandemic-influenza preparedness and planning.
Pandemic Influenza Planning Template. Florida State Courts The pandemic influenza planning template is an additional planning tool to help local courts prepare for a possible influenza pandemic as described in the Florida State Courts Strategy for Pandemic Influenza released on March 29, 2006 (see below). This template allows local courts to add specific detailed information regarding their local planning efforts and contains "boilerplate" language that can be expanded, edited, or deleted as needed.
PandemicFlu.gov. This Web site, managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, "provides comprehensive government-wide information on pandemic influenza and avian influenza for the general public, health and emergency preparedness professionals, policy makers, government and business leaders, school systems, and local communities." State and Local Government Planning and Response Activities can be accessed here.
Pennsylvania Public Health Law Bench Book. (2007). Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts and University of Pittsburgh Center for Public Health Preparedness "In an age when political unrest, global travel and emerging biological threats can combine to create social, political and economic havoc worldwide, Pennsylvania’s court system may be required to address unprecedented challenges." The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts has developed this bench book to provide judges with information and guidance should they be presented with public-health cases.
Public Health Law Bench Book for Indiana Courts. (2005). Louisville: University of Louisville, Center for Public Health Law Partnerships This "Bench Book is intended to protect the health and safety of communities by improving legal preparedness for both public health emergencies and more routine public health cases. In addition, it is our hope that this Bench Book will increase communication between the judiciary and public health agencies at the community, state, and national levels and across a broad spectrum of public health issues. This Bench Book is a reference tool that judges may use as they confront the range of public health issues that come to their courtrooms."--Preface.
Public Health Law Benchbooks. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The CDC has collaborated with a number of states in the development of a public-health "bench book."  "Benchbooks are commonly used by judges as functional practice guides designed to accelerate their understanding of an area of law.  As states refine their approaches to bench book development, some are devoting a portion to a treatise-like discussion of public health law, intended for use by public health officials, state and local public health attorneys, and the public."
Ringland, Robert P. Public Health Preparedness Bench Book: A Guide for the Ohio Judiciary and Bar on Legal Preparedness for Public Health Emergenices and Routine Health Cases. (2009). This guide is designed to assist judges, court personnel, and members of the Ohio bar deal with catastrophes that may occur and interrupt the administration of justice and the Ohio courts.

Disaster Events

9-11 Summit Materials. (September 2002). The emergency-management-related material in this compendium was presented during the 9-11 Summit, held in New York City in September 2002. The summit consisted of a conference for justice-system leadership facing terrorism and other catastrophic events.
Finch, Susan. Criminal Courthouse Bounces Back. (October 2006). Times Picayune This article describes the repair and reopening of the criminal district courts in New Orleans but describes the lack of "people resources," such as qualified people to serve on juries and attorneys to represent poor defendants.
Simon, Susan. Emergency/Disaster Training Manual for Volunteer Lawyers Following Hurricane Katrina. (2005). New Orleans: Louisiana State Bar Association This manual has important information about how lawyers can assist persons affected by Hurricane Katrina/Rita.  Included in the manual is an overview of FEMA and non-FEMA legal assistance, a description of the process of providing legal assistance to disaster victims, and information you may need on such issues as housing, unemployment, and insurance.
Lewis, Jim. Fire in the Courthouse!. (September 2000). County 12, No. 5 This article describes a few court employees' experiences when a fire ravaged the courthouse and how they managed after the destruction of court records and resources.
Root, Oren. The Administration of Justice Under Emergency Conditions: Lessons Following the Attack on the World Trade Center. (2002). New York: Vera Institute of Justice This report examines how Manhattan courts continued to function in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The authors interviewed more than 50 officials and observed hundreds of court hearings. The examination revealed four issues crucial to the administration of justice under emergency conditions: leadership, the return to business as usual, the involvement of community representatives to bridge gaps with the public, and the institution of temporary legal oversight.

Organizations

American Red Cross. Medical aid for disasters.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Deals with infectious diseases and epidemics.
Department of Homeland Security. (2006). Washington, D.C.: Department of Homeland Security Contact information for the DHS office in each of the 50 states, plus grant information. See also the Department's "Preparedness" information.  Also see the Homeland Security State Contact List. 
Federal Emergency Management Association. The first line of defense in disaster recovery.
Natural Hazards Center. University of Colorado Since 1976, the Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center (NHRAIC) has served as a national and international clearinghouse of knowledge concerning the social-science and policy aspects of disasters. The center collects and shares research and experience related to preparedness for, response to, recovery from, and mitigation of disasters, emphasizing the link between hazard mitigation and sustainability to both producers and users of research and knowledge on extreme events.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Workplace safety resources.
Texas A&M University`s Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center. The Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center (HRRC) was established at Texas A&M University in 1988. The center engages in research on hazard mitigation, disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The staff of the HRRC is interdisciplinary in nature and includes the expertise of architects, engineers, geographers, psychologists, and sociologists. The HRRC is dedicated to providing access to hazards information for homeowners, professionals, business investors, and the academic community.