White House creates National Continuity Coordinator

| 05.11.2007 | 07:29:317285 |

May 11 '07: President Bush has signed a new national security directive effectively establishing a national policy to promote the "continuity of Federal Government structures and operations" under the National Continuity Coordinator. The NCC will also oversee state, local, tribal government operations and will provide information to the private sector to help keep continuity of operations before, during and after disasters.

According to the press release from the White House press secretary, the NSPD 51 will also work to "enhance the credibility of our national security posture and enable a more rapid and effective response to and recovery from a national emergency."

To help implement the directive, the White House will focus on "geographic dispersion of leadership, staff, and infrastructure," and through eight stated goals to help a response to disasters: to keep the three branches of government functioning; maintaining leadership during a disaster; protecting the U.S. from outside threats; improving relationships with other countries; keeping the U.S.' national security interests in mind.

The rest of the goals included area to identify and bolster response systems in the country on all levels while working to improve response capabilities and working to maintain business, financial, health, and infrastructure continuity.