Crises can also intensify one another. Flooding can knock out the power supply, while a cyber attack can target hospitals or water suppliers. For emergency services on the ground, the immediate priority is often to deal with the consequences, regardless of whether they stem from a technical fault, an extreme weather event or a deliberate attack.
How civil protection is organised
Although international cooperation is possible in civil protection, it is organised at national level. In Germany, responsibility for disaster management generally lies with the federal states. Districts and towns and cities that do not belong to a district organise emergency assistance locally and coordinate fire, ambulance, and relief services when a crisis occurs. This includes, for example, protection against natural disasters and other civil emergencies.
The federal government, by contrast, is responsible for civil protection – protecting the population against threats arising from war. The two areas are closely linked: in civil protection, the federal government draws on the federal states' existing structures and supplements them with additional equipment and support where necessary. The system can therefore only work if authorities at different levels cooperate and coordinate their responsibilities.
What the CORRECTIV investigation reveals
How well this system is prepared for crises also depends on what is actually available on the ground. CORRECTIV therefore surveyed all 401 countries and independent towns and cities in Germany about their crisis preparedness.
The investigation reveals significant differences: of the 266 local authorities that provided substantive responses, 38 stated they had no crisis plan. Another 97 had drawn up a plan but had not yet implemented any of its measures.
Staff shortages, limited financial resources and gaps in preparedness for prolonged power cuts and sabotage are also making it harder for many local authorities to prepare for crises. The findings show that crisis preparedness depends on more than the formal allocation of responsibilities under the law. It also matters whether plans can be implemented and whether the authorities involved can continue to operate effectively during a crisis.
Why international cooperation is becoming increasingly important
Many of these challenges affect more than individual local authorities or countries. Electricity grids, supply chains and digital infrastructure are interconnected across national borders. A disruption can therefore have consequences far beyond the region where it occurs.
Natural disasters can also affect several countries at once, while cyber attacks and sabotage do not stop at national borders. No country can prepare for every possible scenario on its own. Countries must therefore share information, develop common procedures and be able to organise assistance quickly when a crisis occurs.
Structures for this cooperation are already in place in Europe. Through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, countries can offer assistance to one another during major emergencies, with support coordinated through the mechanism. The European Union is also working to bring civilian preparedness and security planning closer together.
Within NATO, the main focus is on collective defence. This also requires infrastructure, transport routes and supply systems to remain operational during a crisis, so that allies can be supported. The EU and NATO have different roles, but they complement one another in areas such as resilience, the protection of critical infrastructure and crisis preparedness.
Preparedness as a shared responsibility
The CORRECTIV investigation shows why crisis preparedness must be addressed at several levels. Local authorities need sufficient staff, funding and effective crisis plans. The federal government and the federal states must strengthen their cooperation. At the European level, reliable mechanisms are needed to coordinate information, resources and assistance across borders.
The public also has a role to play. Keeping drinking water, non-perishable food, essential medicines, a radio and a torch at home can help people cope on their own during an extended disruption and ease the burden on emergency services. It will never be possible to provide complete protection against every crisis. What matters is that authorities, emergency services, businesses and the public remain able to act – even when several crises occur simultaneously.
— Lilith Grull, International Reporter, CORRECTIV
Link : Civil Protection in Europe