WASHINGTON Federal homeland security officials, planning for a possible catastrophic pandemic that could slow the nation's economy to a crawl, including the entire transportation sector, have put together a series of guidelines for the motorcoach and trucking industries.

Passenger transportation companies that fail to prepare for the possibility of a prolonged and devastating pandemic event may find themselves without the staff, equipment or supplies necessary to continue serving their customers or to provide emergency assistance, federal officials warn.

President Bush has urged private-sector companies to act, noting that "public health experts warn that pandemic influenza poses a significant risk to the United States and the world.

"Only its timing, severity and exact strain remain uncertain. International, federal, state, local and tribal government agencies are diligently planning for the public health response to this potential pandemic," says Bush, urging private companies to also plan for such a disaster.

If a severe pandemic were to hit the U.S., given today's highly mobile population, outbreaks could occur almost simultaneously throughout the country, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Whether transporting passengers by bus, taxi or transit vehicles, or transporting goods by truck, the impact on the transportation sector of the economy is potentially significant, officials contend.

"Any disruption to these key highway transportation services and infrastructure may cause significant local, regional and even national challenges potentially putting delivery of critical food, fuel and medical supplies, as well as emergency response equipment, supplies and personnel at risk," the security officials add.

Here are some of the interim guidelines recommended for motorcoach operators:

Identify and assess all of your systems essential services, functions and processes. Questions to consider include: What would the effects be on charter bus services for school trips; how likely would your suppliers be able to continue operating, and how might your business' typical services be adapted to conditions so that charter buses could be used as environmentally controlled medical supply transporters?

Review all equipment critical to support each essential function. Questions to consider include: Can you modify your operation temporarily to sustain essential assets and equipment; and have you considered driver availability and licensure, maintenance technician certification, fueling availability, repair center operations, replacement and repair part accessibility, Internet and telecommunications scheduling?

Prepare to sustain essential equipment for a wave lasting up to 12 weeks. Questions to consider include: Will you have more qualified drivers available than buses, or vice versa; do you have sufficient replacements parts available on-site or locally or can you collaborate with other small businesses; and can you defer or accelerate scheduled maintenance on short notice?

Identify materials and supplies to sustain essential functions and equipment for up to 12 weeks. Questions to consider include: How many gallons of diesel, quarts of lubricants do you need for 12 weeks; can you afford to stockpile what you will need and how do you fund these costs; and are there realistic options for obtaining these essential materials and supplies in a pandemic emergency?

Determine the most effective ways to ensure an adequate supply of essential materials. Questions to consider include: Is there adequate space on-site to expand storage of fuels and supplies temporarily, safely and legally; do you have contracts with multiple vendors; and have you authorized essential workers to make purchases via credit card or purchase order?

Identify the types and numbers of workers critical to sustain essential functions. Questions to consider include: Are there union constraints against using skilled maintenance technicians as drivers; what challenges do you face with full-time, part-time and seasonal employees; and do your contract employees provide in-house services, such as workplace cleaning, hazmat disposal and equipment repair?

Identify policies and procedures to protect and sustain workers during a pandemic. Questions to consider include: Are there temporary options you can use to increase worker availability, such as 12-hour shifts, overtime and using nonessential workers; have you considered sequestering essential employees on-site; and how do you fund the costs of stocking such items as masks, additional cleaning materials, and, with medical oversight and support, antiviral medications?

Identify Human Resource (HR) and protective actions to sustain an essential workforce. Questions to consider include: Do you have new sick leave policies to support ill workers and ill family members; have you met with unions and other HR groups on implementing new policies temporarily; and have you considered relevant federal, state or local laws that govern extended emergency leave for employees?

Identify interdependent relationships and take actions to sustain this essential support. Questions to consider include: Which critical customers depend most on your operation and what should you do to prioritize support for them; and can you reduce your risks by collaborating with similar businesses to establish a mutual support pact for equipment, supplies and workers?

Identify federal, state and local regulatory requirements that may affect business operations. Questions to consider include: Are there direct or indirect impacts on business operations that should be addressed, such as hours of service, border and travel restrictions and enforcement of fuel price gouging; are there temporary waivers to consider, such as allowing interstate travel without obtaining trip permits for each state; and what issues may arise from temporary modifications, such as insurance carrier restrictions and greater monitoring by a business of its drivers who may be allowed to exceed hours of service.

Identify effects from mitigation strategies and take actions to reduce negative impacts. Questions to consider include: What impact will strategies have on absentee rates if, for example, schools and childcare facilities close for several weeks; what are the costs associated with expanding sick leave policies; and what workplace changes can you implement to keep employees apart, such as work-at-home options, split working/meal shifts, reduced nonessential travel, and physical separation of employees throughout the workplace?

Ken Presley, vice president of industry affairs at the United Motorcoach Association, says officials involved in pandemic planning have done an excellent job. He particularly singled out the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Coast Guard for their efforts.

The CDC offers these impact assumptions: Susceptibility to a pandemic influenza virus will be universal; the disease will hit at least 30 percent of the population; absenteeism could reach 40 percent; epidemics last 6-8 weeks in affected communities, and multiple waves that strike across the country last 2-3 months.

The highway and motor carrier pandemic guidelines will eventually be posted on the so-called pan-flu Website, http:/pandemicflu.gov.