Continuum of Government (COG) - The preservation, maintenance, or reconstitution of civil government's ability to carry out the executive, legislative, and judicial processes under the threat or occurrence of any emergency condition that could disrupt such processes and services.

Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) - The ability to recover and provide sevice sufficient to meet the minimal needs of users of the system/agency. This ability to continue essential agency functions across a wide spectrum of emergencies will not not necessarily limit COG functions.

On July 30, 2002, Governor Hoeven issued a directive to all State entities to develop a business continuity/disaster recovery plan to ensure the continuity of State government in the event of a manmade or natural disaster. The State COG Team developed a Plan template and instruction document to assist State entities in developing initial COG and Continuity of Operations (COOP) plans that were intended to be expanded and updated as the program develops. These documents are listed on the Plan Development page.

 

When State entities filed initial COG plans that were formatted in Word, the State COG team recognized the need to integrate the vast number of State operational plans and data into a single, coherent, usable State planning system. To that end, the COG Team directed the purchase of a web-enabled relational database software application from Strohl Systems Group, Inc. - the Living Disaster Recovery Planning System (LDRPS).

Once plans are developed it will be necessary to test them to ensure the continuity of operations and availability of critical resources in the event of a disaster.

• Letter from Governor Hoeven directing establishment of COG (pdf).

N.D.C.C 44-04-24 exempts Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) from open records.