The primary and absolute focus of aContinuity of Operations Plan (COOP)is to provide a roadmap forguiding organizations on how to perform their essential functionsduring and after a disruption.5While a standard Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) focuses on the "external" response to a hazard, a COOP focuses on the "internal" resilience of the organization itself. According toFederal Continuity Directive 1 (FCD 1), the goal of COOP is to ensure that National Essential Functions (NEFs) and Primary Mission Essential Functions (PMEFs) continue without interruption.
An effective COOP plan identifies the organization'sEssential Functions—those activities that cannot be stopped for more than 12 hours without a significant impact on the mission.6The plan then details the resources required to support those functions, categorized as the "Four Pillars" of COOP:
Personnel:Identifying the Emergency Relocation Group (ERG) members who are vital to the mission.
Facilities:Designating alternate operating sites if the primary building is unreachable.
Communications:Ensuring redundant systems are available to support remote work.
Vital Records:Protecting the data and legal documents required to restart operations.
For theCEDPprofessional, COOP is the essence ofBusiness Continuity. It ensures that even if the "nerve center" of an organization is destroyed by a flood, fire, or cyber-attack, the organization can continue to serve the public. Options B and C are management tasks that support COOP, but they are not the "focus" of the plan itself. The focus is operational; it is a "How-To" manual for maintaining the organization’s structural integrity. By prioritizing essential functions, a COOP ensures that the community does not suffer from a secondary "Service Disaster" (such as a loss of 911 dispatch or payroll) while the primary physical disaster is being managed.
