Continuity of Operations (COOP) Program
The NIH Continuity of Operations (COOP) Plan provides details on how NIH will continue to operate should there be service disruptions that affect any NIH facility. COOP Planning is mandated for the Executive Branch by Federal Continuity Directives 1 and 2, issued by FEMA. NIH’s first COOP Plan was drafted in 1996, and the plan is regularly tested through the use of tabletop and operational exercises.
The use of Institute and Center Emergency Management Programs is designed to better coordinate the response and recovery efforts of emergency responders and the Institutes and Centers. The Emergency Coordinator is the point of contact for their IC and is responsible for developing and maintaining the program in their IC. The DEM works with the Emergency Coordinators to periodically exercise their plans using drills and tabletop and operational exercises.
Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
The NIH Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been in operations for over 15 years, specifically established for the COOP program. The EOC serves as the operations center where NIH officials, including the Emergency Support Teams, coordinate and monitor all response and recovery activities during an emergency. The EOC is activated at the direction of the DEM Director, and continues to operate as needed throughout an incident. When the EOC is activated, all COOP communications will go through the EOC to maintain centralized control of communications. Please note - all emergency response communications (i.e., those related to fire and police activities), will be managed through the Emergency Communications Center which will always remain separate from COOP disaster communications
