Epidemiological Trends #2

Continuity Brochure Series

FEMA National Continuity Programs

National Essential Functions The National Essential Functions (NEFs) are the foundation of all continuity programs and capabilities and are the primary focus of the Federal Government before, during and after a catastrophic emergency. However, the Federal Government cannot maintain these functions and services without the support of the rest of the Nation. The NEFs are accomplished through a collaborative effort with Federal departments and agencies performing various essential functions, integrated and supported by states, local governments, tribes, territories, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and the public.

Contact Information For more information, please contact FEMA NCP. For FEMA Region-specific information, contact the appropriate Regional Continuity Manager from the list below.

Regional offices may be contacted via: [email protected]

Website Continuity news, tools, guidance and other useful resources can be found on our website at: www.fema.gov/national-continuity-programs.

Continuity Updates To receive free continuity update bulletins, register at: www.fema.gov/email.

FEMA Region Location

FEMA HQ National Capital Region

Region I CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT

Region II NJ, NY, PR, US VI

Region III DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV

Region IV AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN

Region V IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI

Region VI AR, LA, NM, OK, TX

Region VII IA, KS, MO, NE

Region VIII CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY

Region IX AZ, CA, HI, NV, Pacific Territories

Region X AK, ID, OR, WA

NEF 1 Preserve Our Constitutional Government

NEF 2 Provide Visible Leadership

NEF 3 Defend the Country

NEF 4 Maintain Foreign Relations

NEF 5 Protect the Homeland

NEF 6 Provide Emergency Response/Recovery

NEF 7 Maintain a Stable Economy

NEF 8 Provide Critical Government Services

Ver. 1

National Continuity Programs The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Continuity Programs (NCP) serves the public by coordinating the Federal programs and activities that preserve our nation’s essential functions across a wide range of potential threats and emergencies. On behalf of the White House, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the FEMA Administrator, NCP guides and assists the planning and implementation of continuity programs that enable federal as well as state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) governments to perform their essential functions and deliver critical services throughout all phases of a disaster. Continuity and sustaining essential functions is a shared responsibility of the whole community. Developing and maintaining continuity capabilities helps build and sustain a more resilient nation. NCP’s focus is supporting those leading our nation’s essential functions to incorporate these capabilities throughout their vital missions.

About the Directorate NCP’s structure functionally aligns with Presidential Policy Directive 40 (PPD-40), and enables NCP to coordinate the inter-agency plans and procedures that sustain the nation’s ability to prepare, prevent, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of natural and manmade threats. NCP consists of the Office of the Assistant Administrator, the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center and the six divisions as described below:

Office of the Assistant Administrator provides executive- level guidance and oversight necessary to ensure a comprehensive and effective national continuity capability is maintained in accordance with statutes, orders and directives that sustain performance of essential functions at all times, under all conditions. The office provides official coordination with federal as well as SLTT governments, Non-Governmental Organizations, and private sector critical infrastructure owners and operators to ensure mission success.

Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center maintains readiness to support our partners at all times, under all conditions. The MWEOC provides redundant infrastructure, functional buildings, logistics support, communications, and support personnel for a wide variety of vital government functions.

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Division implements and modernizes public alert and warning systems to ensure that authorities can disseminate timely, authenticated and effective public warnings regarding natural and man-made disasters, as well as severe weather and other public safety threats, IPAWS also gives the President to ability to quickly communicate with the American people under all conditions.

Continuity Implementation Division leads and coordinates the development and execution of Federal Executive Branch and FEMA-internal continuity plans and programs to sustain performance of National Essential Functions under all conditions.

Continuity Communications Division coordinates, operates, maintains, and modernizes specialized continuity communications systems on behalf of the agency and other executive departments to provide secure, reliable and effective continuity communications and IT data services while leveraging redundant/alternate communications mediums to minimize system degradation and enhance resilience/survivability under all conditions.

Continuity Support Division provides communications support to the Office of the Administrator and directs and manages physical, communications, operations and program security in support of the NCP Assistant Administrator. CSD also directs/manages operations, maintenance, configuration and modernization of the NCP facility portfolio.

Policy, Plans, and Evaluation Division coordinates developing and promoting continuity policies, plans, training, and exercises to ensure that governmental, non- governmental organizations and private-sector critical infrastructure owners and operators are prepared to sustain National Essential Functions and provide critical services nationwide, under all conditions.

Business Management Division manages NCP business functions through effective service delivery, efficient resource application, accountability, oversight and a culture of process improvement.

Continuity Resources and Technical Assistance

In coordination with the FEMA Regions, NCP provides outreach and technical assistance to whole community partners nationwide.

Continuity Guidance Circular: This document is a resource for the whole community to integrate and synchronize continuity efforts, and may be used as a reference by organizations developing continuity plans, programs and processes. The CGC can be found at www.fema.gov/continuity-guidance-circular-cgc.

Continuity Assessment Tool: Jurisdictions are encouraged to complete an assessment of plans and programs using this tool to identify shortfalls or gaps to guide requests for technical assistance. The Continuity Assessment Tool can be found at www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/158679.

Continuity Resource Toolkit: NCP has developed a supporting Continuity Resource Toolkit that provides examples, tools and templates for implementing each chapter of the Continuity Guidance Circular. The Toolkit is found at www.fema.gov/continuity-resource-toolkit.

Continuity Courses: Through the Continuity Excellence Series, NCP offers partners a variety of courses to enhance their continuity knowledge and expertise. Information on continuity courses and certificates can be found at www.fema.gov/continuity-excellence-series-professional- and-master-practitioner-continuity-certificate-programs.

NCP Vision Continuity principles

integrated as base

elements of essential

functions operations.

NCP Mission Lead national continuity for the whole of

government and non-governmental stakeholders

through the delivery of services and capabilities to

support national resilience outcomes.

These services include planning, evaluating and

training as well as providing innovative equipment,

systems and facilities solutions that mitigate

impacts of threats to essential functions and also

assure government entities’ responsibilities to alert

and warn their respective communities.