U. S. Coast Guard Continuity of Operations (COOP)

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• U. S. Coast Guard Continuity of Operations
  (COOP)

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Chain of Command

• Headquarters
• Areas (East Gulf Coasts and West Coast)
• Districts - First District (6 New England
  States, New York and half of New Jersey)
• Sectors
• Stations and cutters

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The First Coast Guard District
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A COOP Plan is

• A stand-alone plan, which is used should our
  building be damaged regardless of the cause.
• Not a disaster plan. We have other plans for
  responding those.

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Background

• Pre-9/11 COOP program pertained to maintaining
  Command and Control of ongoing operations.
• Post 9/11, Headquarters issued new planning
  requirements. COOP plans must
• Cover the continuity of but Essential Functions
  as well as Command and Control.
• Provide for the command to move out of the local
  area, not just the building.

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Essential Functions
Essential functions are those that allow the
Coast Guard to provide vital services, exercise
civil authority, maintain the safety and well
being of the general populace, sustain the
industrial/economic base, and ensure continuity
of government in an emergency. The functions
deemed to be essential under this plan fall under
the following programs

• Essential functions are those that allow the
  Coast Guard to provide vital services, exercise
  civil authority, maintain the safety and well
  being of the general populace, sustain the
  industrial/economic base, and ensure continuity
  of government in an emergency.

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Essential Functions

• Those functions that could NOT be left undone for
  90 days
• In other words, those functions we could live
  without for the short-term (the period of the
  relocation)

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Mission Areas
Essential functions are those that allow the
Coast Guard to provide vital services, exercise
civil authority, maintain the safety and well
being of the general populace, sustain the
industrial/economic base, and ensure continuity
of government in an emergency. The functions
deemed to be essential under this plan fall under
the following programs

• Search and Rescue
• Maritime Law Enforcement
• Aids to Navigation
• Port Safety and Security
• Marine Environmental Response
• Defense Operations

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Program Areas (examples)
Essential functions are those that allow the
Coast Guard to provide vital services, exercise
civil authority, maintain the safety and well
being of the general populace, sustain the
industrial/economic base, and ensure continuity
of government in an emergency. The functions
deemed to be essential under this plan fall under
the following programs

• Response Division
• Search and Rescue
• Law Enforcement
• Pollution Response
• Prevention Division
• Waterways Management
• Aids to Navigation
• Maritime Transportation Security

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• First District Office Continuity of Operations
  (COOP) Plan
• April 2008

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Mission

• To rapidly and effectively reestablish the
  command and control and essential functions of
  the First District following an incident
  affecting the habitability, accessibility, or
  operating capabilities of the JFW Coast Guard
  Building or affecting the regional/Boston area.

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Concept of Operations

• Base actions on incident severity
• Determine who is essential
• Support those people with
• A facility An Emergency Relocation Site
• Equipment, supplies and data needed

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Incident Severity (Levels)

• Level 1 Incident affects only the D1 Building
  and functions will be restored within 72 hours.
• Level 2 - Incident affects only the D1 Building
  and functions will not be restored within 72
  hours.
• Metro Boston not impacted.
• Level 3 - Incident affects the D1 Building and
  functions will not be restored within 72 days and
  Metro Boston is impacted.

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Staff Designations

• Command Cadre Command functions (15 people)
• The District Commander, Chief of Staff, and
  Command Staff
• Division and Branches Chiefs
• Command Center Command Center personnel (21
  people) (3 watch positions IMT if established)
• Vanguard Staff The cadre of personnel who
  assist in preparing the Emergency Relocation
  Site(s) for use of Essential Staff personnel (7
  people)

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Staff Designations (contd)

• Essential Staff Selected personnel required
  for proper program management. (45 people)
• Non-Essential Staff Personnel whose functions
  can be left undone for 90 days. (66 people)

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Emergency Relocation Sites

• Primary - Base Support Unit Boston in the North
  End
• Command Center - Sector Boston
• Secondary Specified subordinate commands
• Air Station Cape Cod, Sector Southeastern New
  England, Coast Guard Academy, etc.

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COOP Preparedness

• Maintain the plan
• Backup the computer databases and systems
• Ensure availability of equipment
• Inform the Staff
• Hold drills and Exercises

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Building Evacuation

• Fire Alarm sounds
• Exit via one of three stairways
• Muster at Moakley Courthouse
• Take wallet, bus pass, car keys, etc.
• Dress for the weather

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Devolution

• Devolution is the process by which the essential
  functions of the district are transferred from
  one staff member to another in the event the
  person who is primarily responsible becomes
  incapable of carrying out those functions for an
  extended period of time.
• Planning for a Pandemic

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Devolution

• Communicable Disease Preparedness
• Awareness
• Vaccinations
• Education
• Non-pharmacological precautions
• Hygiene, Social Distancing
• Protective Equipment
• Treatment
• Cross training Based on Essential Functions

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Questions?
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Keeping the Staff Informed

• Part of routine check in process
• Annual All Hands Training
• Drills and Exercises