This continuity planning methodology has been successfully applied for state and local governments, businesses, universities, medical facilities and IT systems.

State and local government continuity planning: Historically, State and local governments have always prepared, to the greatest extent possible, to respond to all hazard disasters and emergencies within their jurisdictions to save lives; protect the public health, safety, and well being; protect property; maintain essential communications; provide for business/industrial continuity; and restore basic public services.  However, over the past two decades, State and local governments and jurisdictions have become increasingly aware of the extent to which disasters and emergencies can interrupt, paralyze, disrupt, and/or destroy their capabilities to preserve civil government institutions and perform essential governmental and jurisdictional functions effectively under emergency conditions.  Consequently, State and local governments/jurisdictions have determined that it is imperative that each level of government and jurisdiction develop and maintain an executable Continuity of Operations (COOP) plan.  COOP planning is designed to develop and maintain a plan that enables each level of government and jurisdiction to preserve, maintain, and/or reconstitute its capability to function effectively in the event of the threat or occurrence of any disaster or emergency that could potentially disrupt government/jurisdiction operations and services.

Governments must be prepared to continue their minimum essential functions throughout the spectrum of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and all other hazards and emergencies.  A Continuity Of Operations Plan/Continuity Of Government (COOP/COG) will facilitate the continuation of government services in an emergency. COOP/COG includes an all-hazards approach, the identification of alternate facilities, and the ability to establish operations within 12 hours of activation and sustain operations for up to 30 days.

Business Continuity Planning (BCP): Private businesses of all sizes have become increasingly aware of the need to have easily executable business continuity plans should a disaster situation strike them. Even relatively short interruptions to normal business functions can have a very serious effect on a business. The continuity planning methodology described above is customized for each unique business situation and organization. In addition, the resulting continuity plan will be compliant with appropriate industry standards applicable for that business operation.

University Continuity Planning (BCP): Universities are composed of a number of organizations that ensure that students are effectively and efficiently provided courses of higher education, housing, safety, etc. In addition, universities employ a large number of persons who rely on university business services. Universities have increasingly become aware that they need to provide disaster resistant services for both their students and employees.

The continuity planning methodology described above is customized for each unique university situation and continuity planning goal. This planning methodology can easily be applied to both private and state funded institutions of higher education.

Continuity of Operations Plan – Hospital (COOP-H): EM Associates. provides an advanced methodology for developing a COOP that delivers an effective and easily manageable plan for resumption of critical medical services. The plan addresses a disaster or terrorist incident impacting a medical facility itself. Building on the continuity methodology described above, EM Associates identifies leadership succession, alternate site considerations and options and all resources needed to resume services. The plan is delivered as an on-line application that is easily updated and maintained. The resulting plan complies with OSHA, NFPA-1600 Mass Causality Standards and HEICS/HICS standards as set forth by the Hospital Industry and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

IT Disaster Recovery Plans: EM Associates Certified Project Managers and professionals have extensive experience in assessing Information Systems vulnerability to disaster incidents including Cyber attacks. With a comprehensive understanding of IT systems, equipment, software, and operations and building on the base continuity  planning methodology, a comprehensive plan is developed to maximize the reliability and availability of your Information Systems Department. A failure analysis of the current environment identifies single points of failure and provides recommendations to mitigate those failures. The IT Disaster Recovery plan is delivered as an on-line application that is easily updated and maintained. EM Associates can also develop alternate/backup site plans and recommendations and provide project management expertise in all aspects of Information Systems operations.