Research Project Description
COOP/COG Phase I
Project Number: 2850
Project Objective
To create a COOP/COG plan for Caltrans that complied with ICS/SEMS/NIMS, and simplifies the current plan to manageable number of essential functions and requirements.
Team Members:
Frances Edwards, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, San Jose State University
Dan Goodrich, Management Analyst, County of Santa Clara
Brian Michael Jenkins, Director, Mineta Transportation Institute National Transportation Security Center of Excellence
Bill Medigovich, Research Associate and Retired Senior Executive Service, Mineta Transportation Institute
Project Abstract:
The MTI team facilitated Caltrans’ strategic planning of the Continuity of Operations and Continuity of Government (COOP/COG) plan using a review and evaluation process against federal and state homeland security and industry best practices models. The project began with the review of the Caltrans role in the Golden Guardian exercise, include extensive research on the agency level exercise, for which Executive SEMS classes were provided, and a preparatory tabletop exercise was conducted for key senior staff of Caltrans.
In the second set of tasks MTI staff provided recommendations and strategies to consolidate, organize and update existing plans into a comprehensive set of documents under the COOP/COG model in compliance with the National Incident Management Systems (NIMS/ICS) and the State of California, Office of Emergency Services (OES) emergency preparedness structure (SEMS) . The COOP/COG was reviewed to include the recently released federal Homeland Security essential functions and the about to be released State of California essential functions. These essential functions incorporate the current legal expectations of Caltrans in emergencies and disasters, including the role on the State Operations Center and the Regional Operations Centers, pursuant to government code or agreements as they apply to the department’s essential business functions. Related work includes the subsections of the plan that support the essential functions, such as the Line of Succession for the headquarters level SEMS functions, the essential facilities, and a workshop for the senior staff to review the findings and recommendations.
Task Description:
Task 1: Agency Familiarization
Task 2: Golden Guardian Training and Support
Task 3: COOP/COG Familiarization and Agency Roles
Task 4: COOP/COG Strategic Plan
Task 5: Workshop for Strategic Plan
Task 6: Essential Functions Support
Task 7: Lines of Succession and Authority, Devolution of Command
Task 8: Minimum Facility Requirements
Technology Transfer:
The MTI Team’s work will be published as updates to the Caltrans COOP/COG, which will be public documents. Team members may address professional transportation, emergency management or homeland security meetings to share the outcomes and processes used in the Caltrans COOP/COG. Since the COOP/COG is a federal requirement all states might benefit from the findings.
Potential Benefits of Project:
Assist other state level transportation departments with the development of their mandated COOP/COG plans; serve as a potential template for regional transportation organizations, large cities and metropolitan region-level planning committees and commissions.
Project Timeframe: September 2008 – June 30th, 2010
Project Funding: $218,430.00
