DHS Introductions and Business Continuity Planning Strategy

DHS

Introductions and Business Continuity Planning Strategy

Department of Homeland Security: Continuity Plans

Continuity planning is an essential component of the Department of Homeland Security.

Annual Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continuity planning exercises "test the readiness and capabilities of federal departments and agencies -- coordinating with the White House -- to execute their Continuity of Operations (COOP) plans" (Continuity plans, 2009, DHS). Additional exercises may be necessary in the wake of new threats or challenges faced by DHS. A critical component of the yearly exercise, called Eagle Horizon, simulates the need for federal departments and agencies to relocate during a national emergency to ensure the seamless performance of government functions. Contingency exercises test the "alert, notification, and deployment procedures as well as interagency continuity communications" (Continuity plans, 2009, DHS).

The Department of Homeland Security works in conjunction with a variety of federal agencies, such as FEMA, to engage in disaster management. While it is impossible to predict the full ramifications of any disaster, whether it is natural or human-generated, it is DHS's job to ensure that problems are mitigated to the maximum possible degree and to plan for a variety of worst case scenarios. In the case of natural disasters, DHS has the added advantage of being able to anticipate likely instances before the event strikes, while with human-generated problems, such as terrorism, there are more unknown quantities. Still, with proper preparation, risk management is still possible.

DHS also offers advice to private industries about how to cope with disasters. During a recent flu scare, DHS provided continuity planning advice, noting: "employers' plans should address such points as encouraging employees with flu-like symptoms or illness to stay home, operating with reduced staffing, and possibly having employees who are at higher risk of serious medical complications from infection work from home, according to the CDC guidance" (Federal guidelines encourage employers to plan now for upcoming influenza season, 2009, DHS). Businesses that want advice about how to deal with homeland security threats, including terrorism, can also solicit advice, training, and aid from DHS.

Thus, through continuity planning, DHS hopes to not only improve its own ability to respond to disasters, but to enable other federal agencies and private industries to be better able to respond to worst-case scenarios, thus bolstering the safety of the American public at large. From my perspective, I am particularly interested in how business contingency planning and large-scale continuity planning may intersect. Many of the lessons learned at DHS can be valuable for organizations that may be affected by disasters; I also believe that DHS has much to learn from how businesses engage in risk management strategizing on a small-scale level.