The following is a press release from  US Central Command (CENTCOM)

MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. (August 22, 2008) - The United States Central Command has deployed approximately 200 personnel from Tampa to Central Command Forward Headquarters in the Middle East to conduct training on the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP).

The training includes the emergency deployment of the USCENTCOM headquarters in Tampa to an alternate location forward in the CENTCOM area of responsibility (AOR). The alternate command post will provide the Commander of US Central Command the ability to maintain situational awareness and command and control
of contingency operations throughout the USCENTCOM AOR as well as Headquarters, USCENTCOM during a natural disaster.

The COOP was last exercised during November 2006, and is a long-planned, routine training event.

There are no media opportunities scheduled during this training.