Is Your Austin Firm "Essential Critical" Under Shelter In Place
The Department of Homeland Security, through its Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), has published guidance of which industries and workforce are considered essential critical.
This guidance states that:
“If you work in a critical infrastructure industry, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, such as healthcare services and pharmaceutical and food supply, you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal work schedule.”
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR BUSINESSES IN AUSTIN?
The guidance is just that, guidance. State governors are currently the ultimate authority (unless President Trump intercedes) on what sectors are deemed essential critical, and other actions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, as we have seen in California, Illinois and New York last week.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) executed a number of COVID-19 related orders (view all here at the Governor’s state page) but has left, for now, the matter of sheltering in place to municipal executives, mayors and county judges.
As he stated in his Sunday press conference:
"Local officials have the authority to implement more strict standards than I as governor have implemented in the state of Texas.”
"If they choose to do so I would applaud them for doing so, but at this time it is not the appropriate approach to mandate that same strict standard across every area of the state, especially at a time when we are yet to see the results coming out of my most recent executive order."
As of yesterday only one municipality has issued a shelter in place order, Dallas County (starting today through April 3). But Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins (D) also stated that Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo (D) planned to do the same. Click here for link to Dallas County shelter in place order.
Austin Mayor Steve Alder has led, with cooperation from Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt (D), issuing executive orders including: cancelling the SXSW music festival, suspending dine-in restaurant services and limiting gathering sizes and grocery line distances.
It remains to be seen whether a shelter in place order will be instituted for Austin and Travis County, but firms continuing normal in-person office operations should be prepared for such an order. Once given the turnaround will be swift.
WHAT SHOULD FIRMS DO?
Understand if their operations do or could fall under essential critical according to the Guidance;
In either case develop a plan to communicate why they are essential critical to mayors, county judges, and key city staff (i.e. City Managers); and
Contact Bingham Group -> info@binghamgp.com
Actions and responses around COVID-19 are occurring in some cases hourly.
We can advise and consult about the best strategy, if applicable, to engage the City of Austin.
IDENTIFIED ESSENTIAL CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKERS (13) AND LINK TO GUIDANCE ON THE ESSENTIAL CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKFORCE
Healthcare/Public Health
Law Enforcement, Public Safety, First Responders
Food and Agriculture
Energy
Water and Wastewater
Transportation and Logistics
Public Works
Other Community-Based Government Operations and Essential Functions
Critical Manufacturing
Hazardous Materials
Financial Services
Chemical
Defense Industrial Base
Be well,
// The Bingham Group Team