Continuity of Operations

Continuity of Operations (COOP) Overview

Continuity of Operations (COOP) is the readiness to continue performing the most important and time-sensitive work even when disrupted by a big emergency. 

Essential processes are urgent, important, and time-sensitive tasks that must continue to avoid negative outcomes. We categorize resources needed for operations as “People, Places, and Things.” Here are examples of how these resources can be affected during a continuity event:

People: Unavailable due to injury, illness, or personal obligations.

Places: Inaccessible due to infrastructure damage, life-safety, or health-safety reasons.

Things: Damaged or inoperable critical applications, communication resources, and equipment.

Are you Prepared? Take COOP Training Now!

Continuity planning considers what’s most essential and identifies realistic strategies for overcoming the absence of a key person, place, or thing. 

The Office of Emergency Management provides self-paced training for researchers and non-researchers to create and maintain their continuity plans.

Click the appropriate button below to enroll in training through Blackboard. 

If you need support with the COOP training, please contact the UMB Office of Emergency Management. 

COOP Plan Maintenance

To maintain your Department/School Continuity of Operations (COOP) Plan, updates should be made bi-annually by the departmental continuity planner. However, some criteria might require updates sooner. Criteria that may warrant an update change prior to this timeline include, but are not limited to:

• Organizational changes, priorities, or other factors that impact essential functions for your department/school.
• Personnel changes that impact the Primary or Backup individuals for each essential function.
• Changes in software, equipment, or other resources used to perform essential functions.
• Changes in the contact roster.

Once changes are made, it is important to notify newly appointed continuity personnel and share the plan electronically, schedule a meeting to discuss the plan and continuity strategies, and take the necessary steps to implement new or existing continuity strategies.

COOP Resources

There are several resources available to you that guide you through your plan development:

• Play the UMB Prepared Card Game with your colleagues!
• Department Continuity Planner Checklist offers ways to proactively identify secondary and alternate people, places, and things.
• Alternate Space Requirements Tool examines space requirements to assist in relocating essential functions, services, or operations to an alternate facility.
• COOP Roll-Out Checklist walks you through next steps for ensuring your backup processes are in place prior to a continuity event.
• EHS Guidance for Labeling Cold Storage Units

Questions about continuity planning?

Please send an email to emergencymanagement@umaryland.edu, and a member of the UMB Office of Emergency Management will contact you.