Risk Solutions International LLC: Government

In these uncertain times, it is more important than ever for municipal, state and federal government agencies to prepare for situations that may inhibit their ability to continue providing the public with vital services. These situations that may interrupt these abilities range from natural disasters to terrorism. To counter these threats, agencies need to establish procedures to safeguard employees and constituents. This includes being able to maintain communications during an emergency, to continue providing vital services and, in severe situations, to designate alternate officials for the continuance of governmental authority.

The federal government has recognized this issue and has provided funding to state and municipal governments to help fund the planning and supplementary equipment purchases in support of these efforts. The funding supports business continuity planning in the form of Continuity of Operations (COOP) and maintaining the integrity of governmental command and control through Continuity of Government (COG). It is the responsibility of local governments to implement these two initiatives.

Department of Homeland Security grants for COOP and COG
Government agencies need to “be in business” at all times and even more so when impacted by a disaster
Significant dependency upon reliable information technology and communications technology
Greater threats to employee and constituent safety
Maintenance of continuous operations
Maintenance of governmental Command and Control
Greater need to be able to provide 24/7 access to information
24x7 access to information
High need for sharing of information

Have you satisfied the regulatory requirements of Emergency Management, Continuity of Operations (COOP) and Continuity of Government (COG)?
Do you have a comprehensive risk transfer strategy combining crisis management, business continuity, emergency management, and insurance?
Are you able to safeguard your citizens and employees, critical data, and facilities?
Have you identified the gaps between your current recovery capabilities and your recovery needs?
Have you required your suppliers/vendors to implement a strong and viable business continuity program?
Are you comfortable with your level of privacy and security for personally identifiable information?
Have you created strategies that will allow for the transfer of citizens and citizen records in the event that a facility becomes restricted or inaccessible?

Our consultants helped create a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) to ensure that they would be able to continue to run government operations in the event that a disaster forced them out of their current operations center. The plan required that all agencies housed in the government center would be relocated and would have access to vital data and communications. The plan was constructed to ensure that the three elements of the plan (relocation of staff, communications and access to technology) would be coordinated. To start the process, an analysis of staffing requirements, in support of emergency operations, was created. It apportioned staffing for disasters of different durations (short, intermediate and long). A data backup plan was created to ensure that all information would be backed up and safely stored so that it would be available within 24 hours of a disaster. Alternate IT processing capabilities were developed at other municipal government facilities. When an emergency situation warranted it, the IT capability would be quick shipped and installed. Finally, an arrangement was made with the municipality’s telephony (voice and data) service provider to reroute all telecom lines and inbound phone calls to the alternate municipal facility. The holistic plan provided the municipality with a cost-effective and expedient means of continuing operations in the event that it was struck by a disaster.

For additional information on Risk Solutions International’s capabilities within the Government sector, please contact Scott A. Corzine at SCorzine@rsi-llc.com.