Strengthening Business Continuity
With the recent focus on pandemic flu planning and following such major disasters as Hurricane Katrina, government entities and private sector organizations have been enhancing their abilities to sustain essential functions during long-term emergency situations. We worked with the West Virginia’s capitol city of Charleston to design a continuity program for the city’s government. The project included identification of critical tasks and essential functions as well as orders of succession and delegation of authority for key personnel, alternate operating facilities, protection of vital records and equipment, protection of IT systems, and recovery resources. The project divided city operations at alternate locations based on who would interact greatly with the public and who normally operates behind the scenes. As such, the city can make maximum use of alternate facilities and available resources while still maintaining accessibility for its residents and businesses.
