Continuity of Operations (COOP)
Awareness Training
Objectives
Provide an understanding of COOP, COOP terms, and benefits of COOP planning
Explain elements of a viable COOP capability Provide information about how a COOP event
might affect you, your organization, and your family
Training Topics
COOP Definition and Scope Authority for COOP COOP Overview Elements of a Viable COOP Capability COOP Impacts
COOP: Definition & Scope
COOP includes. . .
The activities of individual departments to ensure that their essential functions are performed
COOP: Definition & Scope
COOP activities include:
Plans and procedures to ensure that essential functions are performed.
Tests, training, and exercises essential for ensuring a viable COOP capability
COOP Overview: Benefits
COOP is a good business practice. It enables agencies to continue their essential functions across a broad spectrum of hazards and emergencies:
Natural Manmade Technological National security emergencies
COOP Overview: Planning Objectives
Ensure continued performance of essential functions
Reduce loss of life/minimize damage Ensure succession to office of key leadership Reduce/mitigate disruptions to operations Protect essential assets Achieve timely recovery
COOP Overview: Planning Considerations
COOP plans must: Be capable of implementation anytime, with and
without warning. Provide full operational capability for essential
functions not later than 12 hours after activation. Be capable of sustaining operations for up to 30
days.
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Plans and Procedures Essential Functions Delegations of Authority Orders of Succession Alternate Facilities Interoperable
Communications
Vital Records Human Capital Provide vital
services.
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Essential functions:
Most important planning element Basis for determining resource requirements:
Staff Vital information/critical systems Equipment Supplies and services Facilities
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Identifying/Prioritizing Essential Functions
Agencies must determine functions that must be continued in all circumstances.
Essential functions include those that: Cannot be interrupted for 12 hours. Must be resumed within 30 days.
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Staff required to support essential functions: Number Skills Experience Availability Timing of requirement
Staffing
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Delegations of Authority:
To ensure the continued operation of departments/agencies and their essential functions
To ensure rapid response to any emergency situation requiring COOP implementation
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Delegations of Authority specify. . .
Who is authorized to make decisions or act on behalf of the department/agency head and other key personnel for specific purposes during COOP emergencies
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Delegations of Authority Purposes: Approving emergency policy changes Approving changes in SOPs Making personnel management decisions Approving commitment of resources Signing contracts
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Alternate Facilities are:
Locations, other than the normal facility, used to carry out essential functions in a COOP situation.
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Alternate Facilities
Desirable characteristics: Located at a safe distance from and secured
against worst-case and most-likely scenarios Can be operational in 12 hours or less Provide sufficient space, equipment, supplies,
and services to support COOP personnel in the performance of essential functions
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Alternate Facilities
Desirable characteristics: Supports required communications and IT
infrastructures Provides for food, lodging, health, sanitation,
and security needs of COOP personnel on site or nearby
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Interoperable Communications are:
Communications that provide the capability to perform essential functions, in conjunction with other agencies and organizations, until normal operations can be resumed.
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Interoperable Communications
Support performance of essential functions Provide capability to communicate within the
organization Provide connectivity to outside agencies/
stakeholders/clients Ensure access to data, systems, and services
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Vital Records are:
Electronic and hardcopy documents, references, and records needed to support essential functions during a COOP situation. The two basic categories of vital records are:
Emergency operating records. Legal and financial records.
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Emergency operating records: Plans and directives Orders of succession Delegations of authority References for performing
essential functions
Vital Records
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Legal and financial records: Personnel records Social Security records Payroll records Retirement records Insurance records Contract records
Vital Records
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Human Capital Management is:
The sum of the talent, energy, knowledge, and enthusiasm that people invest in their work.
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Human Capital Management
The right people in the right jobs to perform essential functions
Ensures that all employees have a clear understanding of what to do in an emergency
Includes protocols for identifying/assisting special-needs employees
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Human Capital Management
Invests in training and development to build skills and competencies to increase employee flexibility
Considers alternate assignments for nonemergency employees
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Human Capital Management: Non-essential Members
Tell non-essential members: Where to go. What to do.
Include employee accountability procedures Include recall/activation procedures
Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Tests, training, and exercise program includes:
Measures to ensure that an agency’s COOP program is capable of supporting the continued execution of its essential functions throughout the duration of the COOP situation.
COOP Impacts
How will a COOP event affect your organization, you, and your family?
COOP Impacts
Impact on the Organization: Leadership Operations Security Communications
A viable COOP plan will minimize the adverse impacts
of a COOP event!
COOP Impacts
You and your family: Uncertainty Personal and family security Job security Economic well-being
A viable COOP plan and a family support plan will
minimize the adverse impacts of a COOP event!
COOP Impacts
Employee and Family
COOP and family support plans should: Include personnel accountability procedures. Provide a means for keeping employees
informed. Provide information to all employees so they
can develop their family emergency plans. Provide information about family support
services near the alternate site.
COOP Impacts
Employee and FamilyFamily emergency plans should include: Contact and communications information. Immediate Emergency Checklist:
Medical Financial Automobile/Transportation Legal/Administrative Important documents
Wrapup
Your support of your organization’s COOP program
and a good family support plan can minimize adverse impacts and promptly restore normal
operations and family life.