Evaluations & Assessments provides Continuity personnel with tools to incorporate lessons learned, best practices and improvement planning into program activities. Below, users can access copies of the National Continuity Program's (NCP's) Continuity Evaluation Tool (CET), and Continuity Assistance Tool (CAT). Drawing from FCD 1 and 2, the CET outlines an assessment methodology for Federal Executive Branch Departments and Agencies. The CAT is a self-assistance guide based on CGC 1 and 2. It provides non-federal organizations ways to enhance the effectiveness of their Continuity capabilities by informing them on what should be included in their plan and programs.
Regional Continuity Assessment Program
The Regional Continuity Assessment Program, which NCP’s Continuity of Operations Division conducts biennially, is part of an ongoing effort to assist with continuity planning and help ensure that all FEMA regions can perform essential functions during any emergency or disaster. Assessments are designed to review, validate, and identify weaknesses in the continuity program of a particular region.
The principal objectives of this program are to determine whether plans and procedures are in place to facilitate uninterrupted continuation of essential FEMA functions and whether the region’s continuity program is supporting the requirements of other federal, state, territorial, tribal, and local government jurisdictions and critical private sector organizations within its geographic area. To achieve these objectives, NCP has developed the Continuity Evaluation Tool (CET), a plan and program assessment checklist based on guidance in Federal Continuity Directives 1 and 2, and Regional Continuity Metrics, a set of specific goals against which Regional Continuity programs are measured. NCP makes the CET available to Regional Continuity Program Managers and federal and non-federal organizations.
Continuity Evaluation Tool
The Continuity Evaluation Tool (CET) (PDF 449KB, TXT 102KB) was initially designed to assess Federal Department and Agencies continuity plans, programs, and procedures; refine the assessment process and improve the level of continuity program documentation, and document elements of continuity as required in Federal Continuity Directives 1 and 2. Exercise evaluators also use the information from the CET to develop the organization’s after action reports and develop Continuity Corrective Action Programs. The CET has been expanded to facilitate assessments of all federal, state, territorial, tribal, and local government jurisdictions continuity plans and programs.
Continuity Assistance Tool
The National Continuity Policy Implementation Plan signed by the President, required the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and promulgate Continuity planning guidance to state, territorial, tribal and local governments. Continuity guidance must include procedures for development and documentation of essential functions, orders of succession, delegations of authority, devolution, reconstitution, establishment of alternate facilities, interoperable communications, the safeguarding of vital resources, facilities, records, and a test, training, and exercise program that will ensure a viable continuity program. To support this requirement, the Continuity of Operations Division developed a Continuity Assistance Tool (CAT) (PDF 1.5MB, TXT 102KB) based on guidance from Continuity Guidance Circular 1 (CGC 1) and the Continuity Evaluation Tool.
The CAT is a self-assistance guide for non-federal entities to identify continuity strengths and areas for improvement. This tool is designed to enhance the continuity capabilities of non-Federal entities by informing them on what should be included in a continuity plan and program.