Continuity of Operations Planning
Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) is a strategic initiative and was identified as a major risk to be addressed during the TTUSA initial Enterprise Risk Management assessment. Further, it is required in the Texas Labor Code (Section 412.054). Continuity of Operations Planning ensures the organization has identified and recorded the dependencies, interdependencies and resources required to recover and resume operations following a disruption. It is a basic building block of any emergency planning program and effectively integrates with our established all hazards approach to emergency management.
The development of this comprehensive Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) is of vital importance and that is why TTUS organizations need to complete the planning process to develop viable and effective COOPs. We are responsible for providing services to our students, faculty, and staff. We must be prepared to continually meet these responsibilities in the face of a major disaster or terrorist attack, as well as small disruptions, such as:
- Facility issues such as an HVAC problem, plumbing leak, or power outage.
- Relocation to new office space or the reorganization of divisional units.
- Workforce reduction due to illness or absenteeism, loss of key staff due to attrition,
or the inability to hire sufficient new workers in a timely manner.
- Damage to buildings (Residence Halls, Dining Facilities, Classrooms) that would disrupt daily Student activities.
What is Continuity of Operations?
Continuity of Operations (COOP), as defined in the National Continuity Policy Implementation Plan is an effort within individual departments and agencies to ensure that Essential Functions (EFs) continue to be performed during a wide range of emergencies, including localized acts of nature, accidents and technological or attack-related emergencies. (NCPIP/(NSPD-51/HSPD-20)
What is the Goal of Continuity?
The ultimate goal of continuity is the continuation of Essential Functions (EFs). In order to achieve that goal, the objective for organizations is to identify their Essential Functions (EFs) and ensure that those functions can be continued throughout, or resumed rapidly after, a disruption of normal activities.
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