Preparation
Preparation is very important in natural disaster reduction. It consists of planning of resources and as well as operations and training rescue units. E. g. the taking out insurances (individual or collective) is a very important part of preparation, too.
Resource planning
Resources for managing and coping with a catastrophe or a crisis are limited both from the material and personnel point of view. It is the duty of resource planning to optimise the supply of available means, i.e. resources have to be on the emergency scene as quick as possible. The vital basis for that is a reliable, timed communication system and a very well structured crisis management.
Actors in charge
Planning resources is the duty of authorities, i.e. of Civil protection and its partner organisations. According to the spirit of autonomy, personal resource planning (e.g. emergency supply of food, sand bags in case of a flood etc.) can be vital too.
Training rescue units
In order to safe lives and to provide first aid, rescue units have to be on the scene of a catastrophe or an emergency as quick as possible. Therefore, a sound training is absolutely vital.
Actors in charge
The training of civil protection is primarily aligned with managing and coping with catastrophes and emergencies. Cantons are mainly responsible for this. The new model of civil protection demands an operation-oriented training, using synergies of partner organisations such as the police corps, fire brigade, health service, technical services as well as Civil protection.
Taking out insurances
Damage occurring despite preventive and precautionary measures can be insured. This means very often not only paying the insurance premium, but also meeting imposed conditions of insurance companies.
Actors in charge
Insurance companies accept risks which owners of a building or an installation cannot or do not want to carry themselves. In the spirit of solidarity, the insurance premium for the compulsory cantonal building insurance (state-owned company) stays the same for everyone, as they all can be hit by different natural hazards. In the seven Cantons which do not have a cantonal building insurance, this insurance is taken over by private insurance companies.
