What is Continuity of Operations?
Continuity of Operations is the good business practice of ensuring the execution of essential functions under all circumstances. Continuity includes all activities conducted by jurisdictions to ensure that their essential functions can be performed. While only required at the federal level, continuity planning is nonetheless a good business practice.
Continuity of Operations, as defined in the National Security Presidential Directive-51/Homeland Security Presidential Directive-20 (NSPD-51/HSPD-20) and the National Continuity Policy Implementation Plan (NCPIP), is an effort within individual executive departments and agencies to ensure that Primary Mission Essential Functions (PMEFs) continue to be performed during a wide range of emergencies, including localized acts of nature, accidents and technological or attack-related emergencies.
Who We Are
The Federal Branch provides continuity planning, guidance, outreach, training, and assessments across the Federal Executive Branch to develop capabilities for the continuance of essential functions across a broad spectrum of emergencies or any situation that may disrupt normal operations.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Branch
The Federal Emergency Management Agency Headquarters (HQ) Branch has overall responsibility for the development, implementation and execution of all continuity of operations policy, plans, programs and procedures for Federal Emergency Management Agency Headquarters, and executes this responsibility in coordination with all Federal Emergency Management Agency Headquarters components. The Federal Emergency Management Agency Branch also provides assistance, as required, to private sector organizations.
State, Territorial, Tribal, and Local Branch (STTL)
The State, Territorial, Tribal and Local Branch of the Continuity of Operations (COOP) Division is responsible for providing continuity planning guidance and assistance to develop capabilities for the continuance of State, territorial, tribal, and local governments, and for leading the preparedness, response, and reconstitution disaster operations efforts for the Division.
Regional Integration Branch (RIB)
The Regional Integration Branch (RIB) of the Continuity of Operations (COOP) Division by providing guidance, procedures, and technical support to the 10 Federal Emergency Management Agency Regions by assisting the Regional Continuity Managers (RCMs) in designing, developing, and conducting and delivering major continuity related exercises and training.
Strategic Planning Branch
The Strategic Planning Branch supports the Continuity of Operations (COOP) Division in identifying and tracking strategic planning goals and timelines, analyzing and evaluating Division programs, and implementing key program and budgetary functions to ensure the Division is able to fulfill its objectives and goals efficiently and effectively.
Information regarding training courses and the Professional/Master Continuity Practitioner Series, contact:
Information regarding the Continuity Webinar Series:
For more information on the dates, times, and speakers for the National Continuity Program Continuity Webinar Series, email FEMA-ContinuityWebinar@fema.dhs.gov.
Information regarding continuity program assistance:
For continuity program assistance in the FEMA Regions please email NCP-CO-RIB@fema.dhs.gov.
Information regarding State, Territorial, Tribal and Local Assistance:
For State, Territorial, Tribal or Local assistance, email is FEMA-STTLContinuity@fema.dhs.gov.
For general inquires of the Continuity of Operations team please email FEMA-Continuity-WebInfo@fema.dhs.gov.