Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP)
As part of the process, the sixteen agencies will develop their knowledge and confidence in using CARD’s mission-centered ICS for Community Responders to empower staff and volunteers. Recognizing mission critical functions and fully understanding their importance both pre- and post-disaster is an important step agencies take in successful planning for continuity of operations. “Why are these functions so important to the community?” is the most important question that can be asked (repeatedly) during this process.
Following a serious incident, seamless communications between the community agency and those they serve, agency staff and volunteers, and county agencies is essential for mission continuity! To this end, CARD will help participating agencies develop redundant communications tools and work with them to “flex their communications muscle” during exercises. Text messaging, social media, blogs, VoIP, and even those old-fashioned 2-way radios…as long as it’s sustainable – the more the merrier! One thing all those tools have in common is the need for electrical power. CARD will support nonprofits with easy, understandable information on how to keep the juice flowing to devices ranging from smart phones to servers to food bank refrigerators.
We’ve come a long way since Alameda County nonprofits first embraced disaster planning in 1989, but some things remain the same: If you’re looking to make disaster planning a mission-fulfilling experience or to have emergency preparedness be fun, fear-free and easy, CARD can help!
National Preparedness Month #NPM
