Lone Star College System has emergency plans in place if a pandemic flu event reaches the northwest Houston area.

While the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta has reported that nearly every state has widespread influenza activity – including Texas – Lone Star College has not reported any widespread cases nor any new, specific causes for concern.

"We already have a pandemic plan in place," said Dr. Denise Walker, chief security officer for LSCS.

The plan includes precautionary measures to fight and help prevent the flu. In addition, the college system follows the state of Texas protocol for emergency management and has a very close relationship with the Texas Department of State Health Services and Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services to ensure that LSCS plans are consistent with theirs.

The college system’s pre-planning measures include:

·         LSCS leadership has conducted pre-event planning and has prepared specific pandemic flu response procedures.

·         LSCS has developed procedures and plans for supporting ill students and employees who are on campus, if it becomes necessary.

·         LSCS is providing flu prevention information to students, faculty and staff.

·         LSCS has an Emergency Operations Plan that details responsibilities, chain of command, and response actions.

Walker is also a member of the Harris County Office of Emergency Management as a Public Information Officer, which allows LSCS to leverage this communications channel.

Flu preventative information, along with links to health organizations, can be found at LoneStar.edu/chief-security. The CDC site is at cdc.gov.

Lone Star College System consists of five colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, and LSC-Tomball, six centers, LSC-University Center, LSC-University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. With more than 59,000 students in credit classes this fall, LSCS is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and third largest community college system in Texas. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.

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