Continuity of Operations (COOP) is an effort within individual departments and agencies to ensure that their mission essential functions continue to be performed during a wide range of emergencies, including localized weather – related events (tornadoes, floods, blizzards, etc), long – term power outages, law enforcement activities, acts of terrorism, etc.
The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DSHEM) is authorized by the provisions of 24-33.5-1609, C.R.S., to adopt rules and regulations for the continuity of state government operations to provide guidance to state departments and agencies in developing viable and executable contingency plans for continuity of operations. These rules and regulations provide for the creation and adoption of the planning guidance necessary for state departments and agencies to use in developing viable and executable COOP Plan.
Typical COOP Plans include such items as: essential functions, essential support activities, lines of succession, delegations of authority, identification of alternate facilities or work locations, communication procedures to stakeholders and staff, essential records and IT networks, and procedures how the plan is tested and exercised.
COOP Plan Resources
Available online COOP related training courses can be found at https://training.fema.gov/is/c
- IS-156 Building Design for Homeland Security for Continuity of Operations
- IS – 520 Introduction to Continuity of Operations Planning for Pandemic Influenzas
- IS – 525.a Reconstitution Planning Course
- IS-1300 Introduction to Continuity of Operations
Point of Contact
Michael Bouwman, COOP Program Manager