NPHS 1510: Federal and International Framework

Continuity of Operations

COOP Plans

COOP Plan Elements Identifying and prioritizing mission-essential functions Establishing how, when, and which authorities will be delegated Creating orders of succession Identifying and training appropriate staff to support essential functions Acquiring and equipping an alternate facility for relocation Defining availability and redundancy of interoperable communications and IT systems Identifying, protecting, and sustaining availability of vital records and databases Determining methods to transfer control to and from the primary site during and after an emergency Creating a viable schedule to update training, exercises, and plans Identification of Essential Functions  Determine which functions performed by the agency must be continued under all circumstances Prioritize essential functions Establish staffing and resource requirements Identify mission critical data and systems Defer functions not essential to immediate agency needs Delegations of Authority  Identify the programs and administrative authorities needed for effective operations Identify circumstances under which the authorities would be exercised Document the necessary authorities State the authority of designated successors Indicate circumstances under which delegated authorities would become effective and when they would terminate Ensure that officials are properly trained Specify responsibilities and authorities of individual agency representatives designated to participate as members of interagency emergency response teams

Orders of Succession  Establish orders of succession to the Agency Head position, other key headquarters leadership positions, the regional director Identify limitations of authority Describe orders of succession by positions or titles Include in the vital records of the agency and revise as necessary Establish rules and procedures Include the conditions under which succession will take place, method of notification, and any temporal, geographical or organizational limitations Assign successors among emergency teams Conduct orientation programs to prepare successors

Definition:     COOP Site (Continuity Facility or Alternate Site): A location, other than the primary facility, that can be used to carry out essential functions in a continuity situation. Source: FEMA COOP Glossary.

Alternate Facilities  Capable of supporting operations in a threat-free environment Should provide: Immediate capability to perform essential functions under various threat conditions Sufficient space and equipment to sustain the relocating organization Interoperable communications Reliable logistical support, services and infrastructure systems Ability to sustain operations for up to 30 days Consideration for the health, safety, and emotional well-being of employees Appropriate physical security and access controls

The COOP Site should be out of harm's way particularly with respect to natural disasters including: Hurricanes Lightning strikes Tornadoes Thunderstorms Tsunamis Earthquakes Wildfires Flood Winter Storms Some online resources to help you gather natural hazards threat data: National Hurricane Center www.nhc.noaa.gov US Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ National Severe Storms Laboratory http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/ National Weather Service http://www.weather.gov/ The Weather Channel (TWC) http://www.weather.com/ NOAA Tsunami Site http://www.tsunami.noaa.gov/

Interoperable Communications  Should provide: Capability adequate for the agency’s essential functions and activities Ability to communicate with COOP contingency staff, management and other organizational components Ability to communicate with other agencies and emergency personnel Access to other data and systems necessary to conduct essential activities and functions

Vital Records and Databases  Plans should account of identification and protection of vital records, systems and data management software and equipment necessary to perform essential functions and activities Emergency Operating Records Vital records essential to the continued functioning or reconstitution of an organization during and after an emergency Legal and Financial Records Vital records critical to carrying out an organization’s essential legal and financial functions and activities and protecting the legal and financial rights of individuals directly affected by its activities Agencies should back up electronic files regularly

Tests, Training and Exercises  All agencies should plan and conduct tests and training to demonstrate viability and interoperability of COOP plans Plans should provide for: Individual and team training (annually) of agency COOP contingency staffs and emergency personnel to ensure currency of knowledge Internal agency testing and exercising (annually) of COOP plans and procedures Testing of alert and notification procedures and systems for any type of emergency (quarterly) Refresher orientation for COOP contingency staff arriving at an alternate operating facility Joint agency exercising of COOP plans

Continuity Plan Executive Summary Part I Introduction Part II Planning Basis Part III Procedures for Plan Implementation Part IV Maintaining Continuity Readiness.

Continuity Planning Process Appointing the Continuity Program Manager. Selecting the planning team. Determining essential functions. Applying risk management principles to assess potential hazards. Identifying resources required for continuity planning. Establishing objectives and milestones. Determining procedures for information gathering and decisionmaking.

Definition     Terrorism: the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion. Source: Merriam Webster Dictionary

Exercise    Think about two different places visited regularly by tourists. What might be the issues related to

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