The World Health Organization recently elevated the H1N1 epidemic to “pandemic” status, meaning the virus has spread across every continent and still presents significant risks to public health. Few people realize that nearly half of all the H1N1 cases being tracked are right here in the U.S. We’re focused on things like washing our hands more often, but as employers and individuals, are we prepared for what happens next?

The problem is we don’t yet know what will be asked of us.

It is precisely for situations like these – in the time before an event like a pandemic escalates further and creates a series of challenges that happen in rapid succession – that employers draft formal business continuity plans.

Increasingly, companies are finding that teleworking is an essential tool in preparing for, and recovering from, a catastrophic natural or man-made disaster. Whether it is “home-based” or “remote-office based,” teleworking moves the work to the employee, rather than moving the employee to the work, which, in the event of a pandemic, can help prevent the spread of health risks.

Situations like the current swine flu pandemic have happened before. During the SARS breakout of 2003, many Hong Kong and Montreal based firms opted for teleworking to conduct “business as usual,” thereby minimizing human contact while still working closely with customers. In fact, SARS was a catalyst for many businesses that are integrating teleworking into their business continuity plans as a means of “social distancing” while operating critical functions within the organization.

Implementation Steps for Disaster Preparedness
Every employer is unique in the needs and considerations that must go into planning, but the key to business continuity is emergency preparedness, which entails having a program in place that has been tested prior to the emergency and an advocate that can champion the program. Consider these issues:

1. Gaining support from all levels of management. Management will need to know how telework would impact productivity and the bottom line.
2. Knowing which employees could work from home or a remote location. Some jobs may not seem appropriate for teleworking at first, but in an emergency, all employees may need to work from home or another location.
3. Locating alternative facilities where employees could work. If your building becomes inaccessible, all work may need to be performed from an alternate location.
4. Determining equipment needs and resources. At a minimum, you need to determine the types of equipment necessary for employees to accomplish their work. This can vary for each employee or work unit.
5. Developing remote access to office files. Teleworkers may need access to information and software to perform tasks. Some companies have back up files stored off-site, which can be accessed in an emergency.
6. Training employees and managers on teleworking procedures. Businesses have found that employees with prior teleworking training are able to respond quicker and more effectively to unexpected circumstances.
7. Establishing a teleworking pilot program and monitoring results. A well-rehearsed plan is important to ensure your business can respond to a crisis. A pilot program for select employees can help polish your emergency teleworking procedures.

Lessons Learned From Recent Disasters
Employers that have had to put their business continuity plans into motion offer this wisdom:

1. The telecommunications infrastructure may be more robust than the roadway infrastructure.
2. Investments in technology and back-up systems are the backbone of many recovery programs.
3. Pre-planning and testing of the plan are the key to quick recovery.

Employers can learn more about what makes a solid business continuity plan when they attend The Clean Air Campaign’s next Lunch and Learn event on telework, the telework tax credit and the role of telework in business continuity planning on July 16.

A new marketing survey finds commuters in "The City Too Busy to Hate" have ample time to project anger towards each other as they jockey for position on the region's congested roadways.

Don't drive angry.

Atlanta, the genteel metropolis where people say "hey" and open the door for one other, checks in at #4 on the list of cities with the least courteous drivers, behind New York, Dallas and Detroit. Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, Portland, Oregon, topped the rankings as the most courteous city for motorists.

The worst part is that Atlanta moved up on the list, from 6th in 2008. Guess lots of the 84% of commuters in the region who drive alone each day need to smooth out some anger issues.

How did we go from bad to worse? A few thoughts:

1. Population growth has brought a million new residents to metro Atlanta in the past decade, and the region expects to add another two million people by 2030. We're fighting for our "personal space" on a crowded transportation network that projects to grow even more crowded. And we're not happy about it.

2. We're not paying attention to what we're doing because we're preoccupied with multi-tasking, talking on the phone or texting. Of the 24 cities participating in the survey, Atlanta was the city most likely to see other commuters slam on their brakes at the last minute.

3. We're short on patience because we're always running late due to delay from traffic (which burns up 60 hours a year for the average metro ATL commuter). This shows up in the finding that Atlanta is second-most likely to see other commuters run through red lights on a daily basis or change lanes without warning.

What can we do to suppress some of the asphalt angst we fling at our fellow commuters?

Here's an idea: next time you're behind the wheel and that vein pops out of your neck because the dummy in front of you just swerved into your lane and cut you off, share a laugh about it with your carpool partner. Or, tuck away that middle finger and thank your lucky stars you don't have to do battle in traffic the next day because you're working a compressed workweek. Or, ease up on the horn and make a mental note to ask your employer about getting a discounted transit pass.

Maybe these are the things the happy commuters do in Portland.

Next week is a great week to shake up the routine a little in your daily commute. The Clean Air Campaign, together with Clark Howard and the crew at 750 AM WSB and the region's local Transportation Management Associations, want you to pick a day next week to give your car the day off. Last year, some 1,300 metro Atlanta commuters pledged to do it (when gas prices rose above $4 last year, it's easy to see why). This year, let's raise the bar! You can sign up here to take part.

Need a little motivation to participate this go around? Here are five great reasons to give your car the day off:

1. Every mile you drive alone is costing you 54 cents. That adds up over time, especially in Atlanta, which is recognized as one of the most expensive areas for commuters nationwide. Did you know the average metro ATL household spends more than $8,000 a year on transportation costs? That's more than we spend on food.
2. You can get more done when you're not behind the wheel. With an average commute time in the region of 36 minutes each way, we're all looking for ways to be more productive. Why not hop on an Xpress bus or carpool and read a book or catch up on e-mail?
3. Half of all smog-forming emissions come from the tailpipes of cars and trucks. That's a major factor in the number of days we experience when air quality is deemed unhealthy for outdoor activity. Fewer tailpipes is good for the air we breathe. Try carpooling. If you need help finding a person to share the ride, The Clean Air Campaign can direct you to RideSmart, a division of the Atlanta Regional Commission that runs a service to match commuters who live and work near each other.
4. Not having to drive means less stress from the grind of traffic and the "unpredictable actions" of other commuters who are competing for space on the roads. You don't have to get worked up about the dummy who zooms past you and changes lanes without signaling when you're teleworking.
5. When you leave your car in the driveway and choose a different way to get to work, you're not using up as much energy. Try MARTA. They're also supporting an event next week -- on Thursday, June 18 -- called "Dump the Pump." We all remember how exasperating it was last year to shell out big bucks for gas. It's still painful to pay $2.50 a gallon. Try an alternative so you don't need to fill up the tank as often.

Giving your car the day off one day next week is just a starting point, of course. We want you to do it once in hopes that you'll consider doing it more often. There are more than 350,000 commuters across town who have come to enjoy alternatives to driving alone. We need more to accomplish our mission of less traffic and cleaner air.

In metro Atlanta, 84% of commuters drive alone to and from work on a maxed out road network. We’re chided as the most expensive city for commuters in the entire nation as we stew in traffic for an average of 72 minutes a day roundtrip. There’s no question we need more infrastructure, transit, sustainable funding sources and focused leadership to meet the mobility needs of a growing region. But even with new funding, it will take a decade or more to bring new projects out of the ground. What we need NOW is to make the best use of the existing options we have.

That got us thinking, “what if we could show the impact that taking cars off the road can have on traffic?” We know that on bank holidays, it’s much easier to get to work, despite the fact that only a small percentage of cars are not on the roads. If more commuters chose not to drive alone, what could that do to traffic congestion? The Clean Air Campaign and our partners came up with a neat way to express that idea visually.

We created a series of simulated traffic photos. Check them out here. Here’s how we did it: Last fall, a photographer scaled a fence on the 10th Street overpass straddling the Downtown Connector during morning rush hour to shoot a picture of typical Atlanta traffic (she nearly got arrested trying to get the perfect shot). A week later, our staff and partners met in an empty parking lot in Buckhead and set up a bunch of folding chairs:

We arranged them on the blacktop in configurations that accurately portray the number of seats in a typical carpool, vanpool and commuter bus. We sat in the chairs and modeled for the camera as the photographer snapped photos from atop a scissor lift. Then, the images were painstakingly cleaned up in PhotoShop and merged into the original traffic photo of the Downtown Connector.

The concept has become a mainstay in The Clean Air Campaign’s presentations to employers and commuters. In just a few images, we can explain what we’re trying to accomplish. The best part is that many of our colleagues and partners sat in those chairs and helped make the project possible. How much longer until the concept of these photos becomes more of a reality? That’s up to you.

For this edition, a sampling of current events in the transportation and air quality world we share with every Georgian who commutes and has a pair of lungs:

Coming Soon: Cleaner Cars

Starting in 2012, new cars and trucks will be required to get 35 mpg AND produce less greenhouse gas emissions. What's exciting about this concept is that it merges together two ideas -- reduced energy demand plus lower environmental impact. It's also neat that the policy will be co-authored by the Environmental Protection Agency AND the US Department of Transportation. Still, it's important to keep a little perspective: in a few years, we'll look good sitting behind the wheel of our cleaner cars, but unless we get more cars off the road, we won't get anywhere.

Lane ends 2,000 feet

Smog Season: All's Clear ... So Far

We're now into our fourth week of smog season and the Seattle-like spate of cool, windy, wet weather has helped keep us in the green. Wish it could last forever, but the reality is that we live in the Southeast, and it just wouldn't be summer without a lingering drought and broiling temperatures. Commuter traffic also factors in to the formation of smog, with tailpipes accounting for 50% of it in Atlanta. But, it's great that we haven't had to sound the smog alarm so far. Are you registered to receive Smog Alerts from us?

Lane ends 1,000 feet

Eye Candy: Visualize Less Traffic

The Clean Air Campaign and many of our partners in the transportation created a compelling visual representation of what it is we're trying to accomplish with your help. Check out this video for an idea of what's possible when just a handful of commuters think differently about the way they get to and from work. Watch this space for a future post describing how we made this.

Lane ends 500 feet

Road Test: Drive Carefully

And finally, the most compelling reason yet to skip your commute altogether and telework. Yikes. Have a great holiday weekend!

Merge

When commuters sign up to take part in our financial incentives, we're rewarding their decision to try alternatives that help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. But another significant benefit to us is the information generated by each participant that helps us track clean commute activity. This information is represented in terms of: reduction in vehicle miles of travel, reduction in air pollution and savings on commute costs.

Since the first commuters began logging their daily activity in 2002 as part of the Commuter Rewards program, here's what we know:

• 75,000 commuters have taken part in our programs, logging more than 10 million clean commute trips and saving $100 million on commute costs

• Each day, these efforts mean 1.2 million fewer vehicle miles of travel on Georgia roads -- enough miles to circle the Earth 48 times

• The impact of this reduction in mileage means 600 tons of pollution are kept out of the air we breathe each day -- the equivalent weight of a dozen fully-loaded 18-wheelers.

From this vantage point, it's clear that the combined efforts of legions of commuters are making a difference in air quality. But what difference can individual commuters make? When sustained over a long period of time, there are many individual commuters we've identified whose long-term efforts have kept tens of thousands of pounds of pollution out of the air we breathe. These people have been faithfully logging their clean commute activity online for years -- long after their initial financial incentives that brought them to The Clean Air Campaign have run dry.

The Clean Air Campaign and its partners have created a new program that celebrates these individuals and their dedication over the years. The Clean Air Commuter Champion program recognizes the commuters who have reached specific milestones in pollution reduction because of their dedication to use alternatives to driving alone.

In our first wave of recognition, 900 Clean Air Commuter Champions are receiving a certificate announcing their achievement for eliminating 25,000 pounds of air pollution, a special gift and coveted bragging rights that their efforts are making a difference. And because this is centered around travel to and from work, employers will also receive a letter from The Clean Air Campaign applauding the "green" efforts of their champion employees who found a better way to work.

Each of us has heard the familiar refrain, "lead by example." When you meet a Clean Air Commuter Champion who has been leading by example for a long time, be sure to give that person your heartfelt thanks and a pat on the back.

A year ago, The Clean Air Campaign issued a simple but meaningful challenge to commuters: pledge to keep one ton of pollution out of the skies by using alternatives to driving alone once a week.

The One Ton Challenge was created last year strictly to appeal to the emerging "green" appetite among the commuters with whom we interact. It was an environmentally-focused idea that would be easy for individuals to work into their routine and that would make the efforts of the individual become a part of the greater good.

The concept came from the finding that every mile we drive creates a pound of pollution. This finding has become one of our most compelling links of late between traffic and air quality, which is central to The Clean Air Campaign's mission. It's so effective because it's boiled down to a concrete thought we can all grasp. I've said it before in this space and I'll say it again: sometimes in the discussion about other abstract pollution issues (like greenhouse gas emissions, for example) it's just not as easy to get our heads around it and see what our individual impact could mean.

It's gratifying to see how The One Ton Challenge was so well-received in its first year. Legions of commuters stepped up and took the pledge, resulting 3,600 fewer tons of pollution we have to worry about. That's 3,600 tons! That's about the equivalent weight of a fleet of 8 jumbo jets ... or 15 locomotives ... or two dozen Blue Whales.

The One Ton Challenge moved the needle in a positive direction on reducing pollution, but equally as important, it sparked a dialog among commuters about the difference they want to make. Here are just a few comments we received from those who took the pledge:

• “I bought a house within walking distance from my office. I now drive a total of about 10 miles a week to get groceries, for entertainment and to run errands. I used to estimate approximately 200 miles weekly. I am proud to put in my extra effort to make a huge dent in the ton.”
• “I've been driving to work for many years now, but for the good of our planet and my pocket book, I decided to take MARTA train/bus to and from work everyday! I park my car at the nearest MARTA station and take the train from there and transfer to a bus to Emory."
• “I have joined a vanpool and I pledge to use the vanpool everyday of the work week. I would normally travel 25 miles each way from home to work - so I should reduce pollution by 50 pounds each day.”

We believe this project has shown individuals that they really can make a difference ... without radically changing their way of life. We think it's about reaching one person, getting them to see this and replicating that process over and over. And we want to be sure that it remains fun. That's why we're rewarding One Ton Challenge advocates who bring others into the fold with a chance to score a Clean Air Campaign t-shirt.

Where do you stand? Do you buy into the One Ton Challenge? Do you believe the little things we do as individuals can create significant change in terms of environmental impact? Or does it require wholesale sacrifice from everyone? Does this debate show up anywhere else in the decisions we make or the actions we take?

This week has special significance for Georgians as we gird our lungs in preparation for smog season, which begins May 1 and runs all the way until September 30. This five-month stretch can be very taxing for asthmatic children, the elderly and anyone with sensitivities to ground-level ozone and particle pollution.

But before we sigh in exasperation over the next public health issue we must tackle after pollen and swine flu, let's celebrate: Governor Perdue has officially proclaimed this week to be Air Quality Awareness Week. This proclamation draws attention to the significant challenges we face in beating back ambient air pollution ... and it puts the ball in our court to act. Is there anything positive to note on the air quality front? You bet. Here are a few things to get excited about before smog season kicks off:

1. The efforts of thousands of commuters who pledged to use commute alternatives like carpooling, vanpooling, transit, telework, bicycling and walking once a week over the course of a year have really paid off. The Clean Air Campaign is celebrating the first anniversary of the One Ton Challenge, a simple way for commuters to go green. More than 3,600 commuters took the pledge, resulting in at least 3,600 tons of pollution kept out of the air we breathe. If you're not on board yet, signing up is a snap.

2. There are quite a few long-time users of commute alternatives who are approaching big milestones in clean commuting. To commemorate the sustained efforts of these champions -- each of whom has accounted for eliminating at least 25,000 pounds of air pollution -- The Clean Air Campaign just launched a special recognition program.

3. After another dry year in 2008, things appear to be looking up in 2009 for breaking out of one of the worst droughts ever to grip the state. But we need lots of precipitation this summer to help mitigate the conditions that cause smog to form. How much rain we'll get is anyone's guess, but the Farmer's Almanac says "rainfall will be well above normal in the south." Of course, it also says we should expect a hurricane in late-August or September ... and we all remember what that did to gas prices and commuting.

This is all great news, but it's important to keep our progress toward cleaner air in perspective. Consider:

1. The American Lung Association today released its annual State of the Air report, which finds Atlanta ranked among the 25 worst metro areas for both ground-level ozone and particle pollution. We're doing marginally better when compared to previous years, but we've got more work to do.

2. Last smog season, metro Atlanta experienced nearly 30 days in which ground-level ozone and/or particle pollution reached unhealthy levels -- that's almost a month's worth of dirty air. It's important to note that the 2008 smog season brought with it the introduction of tighter standards for air quality, which were put in place to protect public health. What's encouraging is that roughly half of last year's smog days resulted from this change in standards, meaning we would only have experienced about 15 days of bad air if the old standards had remained in effect.

So, how do you see things shaping up for Georgia this year? Weigh in with a response ... and be sure to sign up for Smog Alerts from The Clean Air Campaign -- messages sent straight to your e-mail inbox or to your Twitter account (follow @CleanAirGA) to help you plan ahead when the next day's air quality is forecasted to be poor. Here's hoping we don't have to send too many messages out.

I never meant to develop the relationship I have today with public transportation; daily rider, avid fan, committed advocate. I owned (and still do) a gas guzzling SUV that I dutifuly drove every day up and down the downtown connector and Georgia 400 from my house in North Ormewood in the heart of Atlanta to my office in Alpharetta. It all started because I had to go to the bathroom.

Let me explain - it was just a Friday like any other. I was planning to go to the Hawks game and had left my office at somewhere around 3:40. I knew Friday traffic would be bad; really bad, and I wanted to get home, change, eat something and get to the game. That afternoon traffic was worse than I could have imagined. I waited in the usual places, but then I got to the tollbooth at GA 400 and it stopped. And the line crawled. The worst part was I had to go to the bathroom. I had to go and I saw no relief. We were crawling toward the Sidney Marcus exit and it looked like we would never, ever get there. As I sat there, about to freak out, I watched the MARTA trains roll over head and thought, "there has to be a better way."

It took me more than 2 hours to get home that night, and by the time the weekend ended, I had mapped out my route. Drive to Inman Park, take the train to North Springs, get on the #140 bus and get to the office.

That morning was crazy. I got up super early and nervously began my trek. I was going to ride a BUS. I had never considered this before, the fact that I had to ride a bus was always the deal-breaker for me. But I did it that morning. I made it and I made it so much more relaxed. And then going home. Wow. What a difference.

I never looked back. By the end of the week I bought a monthly pass. I have only driven to my office rarely since that day, more that 18 months ago. I added the bus in front of my house to my repetoire a few weeks later and now my commute almost never involves a car (I'll admit, some days I drive to the train station when I need my car right after work.) I have taken MARTA all over Fulton and Dekalb, ridden buses to Stone Mountain, Buckhead, Downtown, everywhere. I chuckle to think there was a time when I wouldn't consider a bus. I am chuckling even more when I realize I am writing this on a 3G card from the front seat of the #140 as I ride home.

I love my MARTA. The only regret I have is that I didn't realize it for years. I wish I could have all those wasted hours sitting on the connector back.

I can't, but maybe I can convince you to give it a try and save those hours for yourself ;-)

James Hervey is the author of a blog on his MARTA ridership experiences and a regular contributor to http://atlanta.metblogs.com/. Each year, his sustained efforts at clean commuting have helped keep nearly four tons of pollution out of the air we breathe.

Living an eco-friendly lifestyle has always been an important priority in my life. At the earliest age I was taught the values of respecting our resources, taking care of our environment, and giving back whenever possible. These lessons formed the foundation to the environmentally responsible life I choose to lead, which today is fueled by the undeniable connection between the health of our planet and our own welfare.

For each of us our motivations for going green differ. For some of us we are motivated to live an eco-friendly lifestyle to improve our health and the health of our loved ones and for others it might be the financial savings that makes going green a wise business decision. But no matter if you're going green to protect an imperiled species, to preserve your favorite wilderness spot you loved as a child, or to secure a healthy future for your children, I believe first actions are inspired by acquired knowledge. In my experience learning about environmental issues based on fact can open hearts and minds and can lead to a greater understanding of the natural world we live in and depend upon. By understanding the connection between the intricate, fragile, interdependent web of life comes a sense of responsibility to make things better.

Through education we learn that our planet is in peril and in desperate need of our help. It is more important than ever that we do everything in our power to help restore, preserve, and protect our life support systems and fight for clean air, clean water, and healthy biological systems on land and in our oceans. No matter what our faiths we are called to action be mindful of the less fortunate, future generations, and all of God's creation. I believe many hands make light work, so if we all work together we can minimize our impact on the Earth and make a difference!

Laura Turner Seydel chairs the Captain Planet Foundation, a partner program to the environmentally focused Saturday morning cartoon, Captain Planet and the Planeteers. The Captain Planet Foundation acts as a national educational conduit to provide funds for environmental projects that have impacted over 625,000 youth around the world.