An Online Emergency Response & Continuity Planning System What is Continuity Planning WSU Continuity Planning Requirements Essential Services at WSU Continuity Planning Framework Risk Assessment & Business Impact Analysis Worksheet Starting the Continuity Plan Completing the Emergency Response & Continuity Plan Approval & Renewal Process Testing Emergency Response & Continuity Plan Office of Emergency Management Contact Information
What is Continuity Planning? Continuity Planning is the ability of a college, division, department, and unit to continue to provide service and support for their students, faculty, and staff and to maintain its viability following a catastrophic event. Or No matter what happens today, we want to be able to do tomorrow, as we did yesterday.
How Does Continuity Planning Differ From Emergency Preparedness? Continuity Planning Emphasis on continuing essential operations after a catastrophic even once stabilization of the campus has occurred Emergency Preparedness Focuses on the University Mission Focuses on the event Emphasis on stabilization of the campus following a catastrophic event Securing life, health, and property
What are the requirements at WSU? Per the BPPM 50.39 and Executive Policy #25, requires all units within the institution, statewide, to prepare Continuance of Operations Plans. The elements of a Continuity Program are: Identifying Departments That Perform Essential Services Establishing and Maintaining a Framework for Business Continuity Training Completing a Business Impact Analysis and Risk Assessment Creating of Department Business Continuity Plans Business Continuity Plan Review Business Continuity Plan Testing
What is Considered Essential Services? Per the BPPM 60.40 Staffing During Suspended Operations or Emergency Closures Summary: Mission-critical or essential operations of a unit are defined as those functions/services/resources that are essential to the University and absolutely must be maintained, protected and continued no matter what type of emergency is currently or recently impacting WSU. A key goal for WSU when an emergency occurs is to resume operations to normal levels as quickly as possible.
Continuity Planning Framework The University has secured a software program to provide the framework for our Emergency Response & Continuity Planning System. The software program, provides step by step instructions to assist each user in planning for continuity of operations without Electricity, Adequate Staffing or Facility/Building. The Program also enables the department to submit their completed plans for approval.
Continuity Planning Training The Office of Emergency Management and/or Risk Management will meet with each department that is interested in training. We have provided a Risk Assessment and Business Impact Analysis to assist in the completion of the plan. The Risk Assessment and Business Impact Analysis will assist the department in identifying the Critical Functions to include in their plan.
Risk Assessment & Business Impact Analysis Worksheet The creation of a Continuity Plan begins with an accurate evaluation of the functions performed by your department. The purpose of this document is to help you identify your department s critical processes, evaluate potential threats to those processes and determine the operational impact and priority of each. Only a brief description of your essential function is needed as your Business Continuity Plan will provide greater detail. Use the table on the following page to evaluate your departmental functions. List each of your essential business processes and rate how critical the processes are to campus functionality.
Risk Assessment & Business Impact Analysis Worksheet The worksheet is also available for down load here. List essential function performed by department Rate the impact or importance of this function: 1= Must Continue, Life, Health, Security. 2= Must Continue (in reduced mode). 3=Pause if forced, but must resume within 30 days, D= Deferrable. NA= Not applicable. Students Employees Vendors Finances Violation of Laws/Policies/Regulations With regards to the identified essential function: Are there measures in place to mitigate the loss of personnel Are there measures in place to mitigate the loss of power? Are there measures in place to mitigate the loss of facility?
Start Writing the Continuity Plan Once your department/unit has reviewed the training material and/or has received training from The Office of Emergency Management and completed the Risk Assessment and Business Impact Analysis, the Department can begin completing their plan using the WSU Ready Online Emergency Reponses & Continuity Planning System. To request access to please email emergencymangement@wsu.edu
Select the go to this plan tab for your department
Begin with the Edit your dept Info tab
Your Department Information will already be entered. If revisions are necessary, revise & select the Update Plan Org Date tab otherwise select back
Next select the add/remove user tab
Add/ Remove Users & select "Add to List". Be sure to "Update Plan Users" when done. Otherwise select "back".
Finish by Completing Steps 1-5
Complete your Emergency Response & Continuity Plans Once your Emergency Response & Continuity Planning is completed. Upload your Emergency Reponses and Action Plan Forms. Under Step 5 Select Document Summary & Add New Document Once you have completed this step follow the Instructions for Plan Sign-Off in the System. The Department head or designee will need to email emergencymangement@wsu.eduwith a notice that your plan is complete.
Approval and Renewal The Office of Emergency Management will review the plan upon receipt of the signed Business Continuity Plan cover page. The Department will be contacted upon approval or if any revisions are necessary. Once the Plan has been approved it will need to be updated annually. The Office of Emergency Management will contact the Department approximately 60 days prior to the annual renewal date to initiate the renewal process.
Emergency Response & Continuity Plan Testing BPPM 50.39 requires a portion of each plan is tested every year. To assist in meeting this requirement, the Office of Emergency Management will be available to assist with identifying sections of the plan to test that would be most beneficial to the departments/ units.
Questions? If you have any questions or would like to request a training please contact: The Office of Emergency Management Bryan Hall 301 C MS 5131 (509) 335-7471 emergencymanagement@wsu.edu
The Office of Emergency Management Bryan Hall 301 C MS 5131 (509) 335-7471