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RECOVERY
CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT
PLAN/CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS PLAN: 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 a 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.
EM Associates LLC provides a
proven COOP/COG planning methodology for all levels of
government that is based on FEMA’s
Interim
Guidance
On
Continuity
Of
Operations
Planning
For
State
And
Local
Governments.
Our
professionals will work with a designated team of government
representatives to create a comprehensive COOP/COG for their
Essential operational areas. This includes performing a
disaster vulnerability assessment (DVA), disaster risk analysis
(DRA) and preparation of a COOP/COG.
EM Associates delivers an
electronic database COOP for the jurisdiction and each
individual agency or department that is easily modified and
updated.
Continuity of Operations Plan –
Hospital (COOP-H): EM
Associates in conjunction with EM Assist Inc. 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. The methodology
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).
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