Severe peacetime emergencies

Severe emergencies can be described as extreme situations of various types, which may originate in an accident, a natural disaster or an act of sabotage, and develop to encompass a number of different areas of society. As a result, the emergency takes on such proportions that it causes serious disturbance to important services or threatens fundamental values in society.

A severe emergency often requires coordinated action on the part of several different agencies and bodies, in order to manage the situation and limit the consequences of what has occurred.

Many ministries are affected

Within the Government Offices, responsibility for preparedness to respond to severe emergencies follows normal sectoral responsibility. This means that the majority of ministries are involved and responsible for their areas. The Ministry of Defence plays a coordinating role within the Government Offices and is also responsible for limiting the consequences of radioactive fallout, floods and dambursts, as well as accidents involving chemicals and marine discharges of hazardous substances, etc. (rescue services).

Creating preparedness

Like civil preparedness to respond to commonly occurring accidents and disturbances, preparedness in the event of severe emergencies is based on the resources of society and its administrative system in peacetime. However, it is also important to conduct exercises in preparation for extreme situations. Such situations often require coordinated action on the part of several different agencies and bodies, in order to manage the situation and thereby limit the consequences.

Planning systems to improve societys preparedness

Sweden must be able to meet both military and other threats, such as terrorist attacks. We must also be able to prevent and manage situations that, without posing a direct threat to Swedens peace and independence, could still cause a rapid and serious deterioration in the ability of society to function.

Societys ability to manage crises must build on a crisis management structure. One point of this structure is that it gives municipalities and county administrative boards increased responsibility. The capacity to manage extreme emergency situations should be rooted in normal operating routines, which continue to underlie operations at a time of heightened alert.

Each government agency is required to analyse the operations for which it is responsible to identify specific points of vulnerability and risks that could impair its ability to perform its regular tasks. The aim of this analysis is to enhance its capability to manage emergencies.

To promote efficient management and monitoring of societys preparedness, six areas have been defined for coordinated action in severe peacetime emergencies or times of heightened alert. Specific government agencies have special responsibility for these areas. These areas are:

• technical infrastructure
• transport
• spread of dangerous infectious matter, toxic chemicals and radioactive substances
• economic security
• coordination, interaction and information by area
• protection, rescue and health services

Areas where a particularly high level of preparedness is required
In the view of the Government and Riksdag, sufficient preparedness to meet severe emergencies is especially important in the following areas:

• terrorism
• electricity supply
• telecommunications
• radio and television
• water supply
• mass influx to Sweden of people seeking asylum and aid
• flooding and dambreaks
• serious outbreaks of contagious diseases
• radioactive fallout
• accidents involving chemicals and discharges of hazardous substances at sea

The responsibilities of the total defence system

According to the 1996 defence programme, one of the overall objectives of the total defence system and the associated allocation of resources is to strengthen the capability of society to prevent and manage severe peacetime emergencies. The responsibilities of the total defence system do not extend any further in this particular connection.