Orders of Succession and Delegations of
Authority – Emergency Relocation Group
(ERG)
James B. Daniels, MCP
COOP Planner, TDEM - Preparedness
Texas Department of Public Safety
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Orders of Succession/Delegations of
Authority
 What are they?
 What’s the difference
Texas Department of Public Safety
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Orders of Succession - Definition
Orders of succession provide for the orderly,
predetermined assumption of senior agency positions
during an emergency in the event that any officials are
unavailable or unable to execute their legal duties.
- FEMA Definition
Texas Department of Public Safety
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Orders of Succession - Components
 Conditions under which succession takes place.
 Method of notification.
 Conditions under which authority returns to the
agency leader.
 Temporal, geographical, or organizational limitations
to authority.
 Rules and procedures officials must follow when
facing succession to office
Texas Department of Public Safety
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Orders of Succession - Considerations
 Training
 Position titles, not names (if possible)
 How many deep?
 Up or down?
 Certifications/licensing requirements
Texas Department of Public Safety
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Orders of Succession - Considerations
 Someone who works at a remote location
 Tech support
 Legal review
 Safeguarded list
Texas Department of Public Safety
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Delegations of Authority
 Specify the activities that may be performed by
those authorized to act on behalf of the agency
head or other key officials.
 Document the legal authority for officials to make
key policy decisions during a continuity situation.
- FEMA Definition
Texas Department of Public Safety
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Delegations of Authority - Components
 The authority being delegated.
 The limits of that authority.
 To whom the authority is delegated.
 The circumstances under which delegated
authorities become effective and when they
terminate.
 The authority to re-delegate those authorities.
Texas Department of Public Safety
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Delegations of Authority - Considerations
 Training
 Certification/licensing
 Higher level requirements
Texas Department of Public Safety
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EMERGENCY RELOCATION TEAM
(ERG)
Texas Department of Public Safety
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Emergency Relocation Team (ERG)
 Participate in continuity tests, training, and exercises.
 Prepare office go kits that contain all of the
information, supplies, and materials needed initially
for continuity plan activation.
 Ensure that they and their families are prepared for
an emergency that may require continuity plan
activation.
 Report to the continuity facility, or other assigned
work area, whenever the continuity plan is activated.
- FEMA
Texas Department of Public Safety
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Emergency Relocation Team (ERG)
 Possess the skills for their assigned function(s).
 Be able to remain calm in an emergency.
 Be trained and equipped to perform their continuity
assignments.
-FEMA
 Be cross-trained
 Be free of outside distractions
 Be physically capable
Texas Department of Public Safety
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Emergency Relocation Team (ERG)
 Be cross-trained
 Be free of outside distractions
 Be physically/emotionally capable
Texas Department of Public Safety
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