Federal Government tests continuity of operations plans

The Department of Homeland Security and more than 40 other agencies have conducted a detailed test of their continuity of operations (COOP) plans during ‘Forward Challenge 04’, a two day exercise held on May 12th and 13th.

The exercise was a full-scale, scenario-based event in which Federal departments and agencies implemented COOP plans, deployed pre-designated personnel and leadership at alternate sites away from the National Capital Region and performed essential functions at those locations.

"This is the first-time that the Federal government has conducted a government-wide test of its continuity of operations plans," said Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. "This exercise provides a unique opportunity for the federal government to evaluate and refine its operational readiness to ensure that officials in federal departments and agencies can function away from their normal headquarters and make response decisions in the event of an emergency incident."

Forward Challenge 04 was directed by Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and was designed to enable departments and agencies to demonstrate their ability to fulfil critical agency tasks while away from the normal work site. The critical agency tasks included: establishing an operational capability at an alternate facility; implementing succession and delegation of authority plans; demonstrating an interoperable communications capability; demonstrating redundant communication capabilities; and demonstrating the ability to access the vital records needed to conduct essential functions from their remote location.

•Date: 14th May 2004 •Region: N.America •Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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