Required Continuity of Operation Plan Update
The impact of the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons on colleges and universities near the GulfCoast along with thethreat terrorism and pandemics highlight our potential vulnerabilities to disasters. However, it does not take a large scale emergency to disrupt operations. Building fires, IT malfunctions, flooding or any number of events could impact your department’s normal routine.
In 2003 the Florida Legislature revised Section 252.365 of Florida Statutes to require state agencies and universities to maintain Continuity of Operations (COOP) plans. COOP plans ensure the provision of essential services during a wide range of potential emergencies. These plans are intended to cover short term operations, for up to 30 days, during situations that may make a university building, group of buildings, or critical systems unusable.
UF and your department complied with State requirements and completed the initial COOP planning process in 2003. However, Continuity of Operations plans are dynamic documents that must be maintained and periodically revised. Your department may have experienced changes in organization, staffing, mission, facilities or other areas. Technological changes, such as the advent of People Soft, may also need to be reflected in your COOP plan.
As such EH&S is requesting a review and update to your existing COOP. A copy of your previously submitted plan will be email to you for your convenience. Additionally, a revised COOP template and instructions are available on the EH&S website ( The revised template contains editorial changes and minor updates. You may chose to either update your existing plan or complete the new template. Completion of a signature page is required witheither option. The signature page acknowledges your department’s COOP plan and appoints a departmental COOP planning coordinator, and is also available at the EH&S website.
Required Input and Deadline
Please review and revise your current plan or complete the updated template and submit in electronic format to Kenneth Allen, UF Emergency Management Coordinator, ( ) by February 3, 2006. Please sign and return via campus mail, the separate signature page which states the plan has been reviewed and is correct.
Training and Additional Resources
In order to assist in the process, EH&S is providing a workshop on COOP planning and the template. The training session is being offered on December 20, 2005 and January 11, 2006.More information is available at .To register for the course, please contact Lea-An Steiner at 392-1591. I encourage each department to send an appropriate representative.
Please contact Kenneth Allen (392-1591) with questions or for assistance. Additional COOP information and all attached documents may be found at our website: .
Thank you for your cooperation.