Ten Absolute Basics Your BCP/DRP Should Cover

Develop and practice a contingency plan that includes a succession plan for the Executive Management Team (EMT).

Train backup student/faculty/staff to perform emergency tasks. The student/faculty/staff you count on to lead in an emergency will not always be available.

Determine offsite crisis meeting places.

Make sure that all students/faculty/staff-as well as executives-are involved in the exercises so that they get practice in responding to an emergency.

Make exercises realistic enough to tap into everyone's emotions so that you can see how they'll react when the situation gets stressful.

Practice crisis communication witheveryone and the outside world.

Invest in an alternate means of communication in case the phone networks go down.

Form partnerships with local emergency response groups-firefighters, police and EMTs-to establish a good working relationship. Let them become familiar with the lay of the land and site.

Evaluate the university's performance during each test, and work toward constant improvement. Continuity exercises should reveal weaknesses.

Test the continuity plan regularly to reveal and accommodate changes. Technology, personnel and facilities are in a constant state of flux at any workplace.