Continuity of Government

COOP ensures essential government services continue during emergencies. Each agency has a continuity of operations program manager responsible for:

• Essential functions
• Orders of succession
• Alert notification procedures
• Alternate work locations/procedures
• Vital records and resources
• Testing, training, and exercise plans

The office supports agencies by providing tools, templates, one-on-one assistance, professional development, policy guidance, compliance monitoring, exercise development, and after-action review assistance. They host an annual skills development session, quarterly planner meetings, joint meetings with deputy secretaries for administration, and offer annual online training on safe evacuation procedures.

COG ensures essential functions continue during catastrophic emergencies affecting multiple agencies. Given the interdependence of many functions, such as payment processing, agencies must plan, communicate, and coordinate together.

The office collaborates with IT staff to ensure disaster recovery for critical systems and works with HR staff on policies for employee safety, teleworking, and essential employee determinations. They also coordinate closely with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

ECG ensures all three branches of government can execute their constitutional responsibilities, provide orderly succession, ensure appropriate leadership transition, and maintain inter-operability during catastrophic emergencies.