Transcript of Devolution.mov

   Welcome to your continuity connection  continuity of operations plans are designed to work with or without warning. They're meant to cover all situations from relatively minor disruptions like a fire or flooding on one  floor of a building, to catastrophic emergencies that could destroy an entire building.  The catastrophic situations that strike without warning are the most unlikely, but require some  special planning to continue your department or agencies essential functions.  It could be an attack, an earthquake an accidental explosion,  or maybe a hazardous materials incident. If all of a sudden the systems and equipment stopped working and most of the workforce and leaders  are incapacitated, your location what would happen? Well there are some government functions that must continue without interruption even in catastrophic situations.  That's why  continuity planners have developed a concept called DEVOLUTION. It provides a plan to address these  catastrophic situations. Devolution is the ability to transfer your operational requirements  and responsibilities to perform your essential functions from your primary staff to other staff at another facility  within your organization.  There are several key considerations for devolution. First having clearly defined essential functions with a list of tasks for each of those essential functions, needed to actually  perform those functions.  Similarly  pre-identified staff and facilities with similar nature and scope as those of your regular organization. Clearly defined triggers for devolution of  operations..the equipment and vital records used by your organization on a day to day basis.   Cross trained devolution personnel that can perform and know how to perform those  essential functions.  Consider a "no notice" catastrophic emergency in your location, it's not a pleasant  situation to think about, but its good to know continuity planners have  guidance on how to handle it. They're developing devolution plans so your  department or agency can continue  its essential uninterruptible functions at some other location with an alternate trained staff.  When these devolution plans are in place,  your department or agency is ready to make the continuity connection.