FEMA is designated as the Department of Homeland Security's lead agency for managing the nation's Continuity Program. To support this role, FEMA provides direction and guidance to assist in developing capabilities for continuing the federal, state, territorial, tribal, andl local government jurisdictions and private sector organizations' essential functions across a broad spectrum of emergencies. FEMA's NCP leads this effort for the nation.
Elements of Viable Continuity Capability
The Continuity Plan is the roadmap for the implementation and management of the Continuity Program. NSPD-51/HSPD-20, the NCPIP, Federal Continuity Directive 1, and Continuity Guidance Circular 1 outline the following overarching continuity requirements for agencies and organizations.
Essential Functions – a subset of government and other organizational functions that are determined to be critical activities used to identify supporting tasks and resources that must be included in the agency’s and organization’s continuity planning process.
Orders of Succession – essential part of an agency’s and organization’s continuity plan to ensure that agency and organizational personnel know who assumes the authority and responsibility of the agency’s and organization’s leadership if that leadership is incapacitated or becomes otherwise unavailable during a continuity situation.
Delegations of Authority – establish who has the right to make key decisions during a continuity situation.
Continuity Facilities – alternate facilities from which an agency and organization can perform its essential functions in a threat-free environment.
Continuity Communications – the availability and redundancy of critical communications systems to support connectivity to internal and external organizations, customers, and the public is vital to the success of agency and organization operations.
Vital Records Management – the identification, protection and ready availability of electronic and hard copy documents, references, records, information systems, data management software and equipment needed to support essential functions during a continuity situation.
Human Capital – provides guidance to emergency employees and other special categories of employees who are activated by an agency and organization to perform assigned response duties during a continuity event.
Tests, Training, and Exercises – Provisions made for the identification, training, and preparedness of personnel capable of relocating to alternate facilities to support the continuation of the performance of essential functions.
Devolution of Control and Direction – capability to transfer statutory authority and responsibility for essential functions from an agency’s and organization’s primary operating staff and facilities to other agency and organization employees and facilities, and to sustain that operational capability for an extended period.
Reconstitution – the process by which surviving and/or replacement agency and organizational personnel resume normal agency operations from the original or replacement primary operating facility.
Four Phases of Continuity of Operations Activation
Phase I – Readiness and Preparedness.
Phase II – Activation and Relocation: plans, procedures, and schedules to transfer activities, personnel, records, and equipment to alternate facilities are activated.
Phase III – Continuity Operations: full execution of essential operations at alternate operating facilities is commenced.
Phase IV – Reconstitution: operations at alternate facility are terminated and normal operations resume.
Conditions in which the Continuity Plan will be Activated
The plan could be activated in response to a wide range of events or situations – from a fire in the building; to a natural disaster; to the threat or occurrence of a terrorist attack. Any event that makes it impossible for employees to work in their regular facility could result in the activation of the continuity plan.
"Continuity planning is simply the good business practice of ensuring the execution of essential functions through all circumstances, and it is a fundamental responsibility of public and private entities responsible to their stakeholders."