Survey and Assessment of Planning for Operational Continuity in Public Works

Abstract

The public works department provides an array of essential services to the community that business and citizens rely on. Preparation for service provision during and after a crisis is called continuity of operations planning (COOP). Historically, the federal government has conducted such planning, and private businesses have embraced business continuity planning. Local governments have more recently begun to adopt such “good business practices.” This article provides a background on government COOP planning, describes the important elements of a continuity plan as described in federal documents and standards, and reports on a survey of public works departments. The results of the survey indicate that although some planning efforts have been undertaken, a majority of public works agencies in this sample are at risk for breakdowns in the provision of essential service in crisis situations. Public works agencies need to intensify planning efforts to ensure operational continuity.