Key Factors to Follow

Continuation Actions
 
Assume a disaster has occurred and disaster recovery actions have begun. Now, how will your agency resume its business? Which mission critical services must your agency resume right away? Which services can your agency wait to resume? Who, what, when, where, and how will you resume this business? Don’t go overboard. It is important to plan in advance. When a disaster has already occurred, it will be too late. Your agency should analyze the most probable types of disasters and develop simple, common sense Business Resumption Plans that are not burdensome and can be effectively carried out. 
 
Remember, in a widespread disaster you will be competing for resources and funding. Many state agencies are, themselves, first-responders. It is likely they will receive priority for emergency funds, procurements, or resources. When assessing mission critical services, be sure you do so narrowly. It is easier to expand services as resources became available than have to, on the spot, cut back. 
 
Your business resumption planning must consider two critical areas. First, which of your services are essential for the life/safety protection of your clients? Simultaneously, which are your essential business functions that allow you to provide those mission critical services? The restoration of business functions should not be short changed. Their efficient resumption is essential to maintaining your critical services and resuming the rest of your operations. Look for partners in state agencies who can assist in providing essential business functions.
 
Avoid worrying about extensive preparations for an endless list of potential crises. Concentrate, instead, on the immediate consequences of a disaster, such as the loss of key property, resources or information.
 
Consider These Steps: