The Civil Protection organisation is an integrated system for management, protection, rescue and assistance and is based on every-day resources: It ensures the coordination of the five partner organisations, police, fire brigade, public health, technical works and civil defence. These partner organisations are in charge of their respective areas of responsibility and give each other mutual support.
Federal Office for Civil Protection
At the federal level, the Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP within the DDPS is basically responsible. The FOCP comprises the following businesses (organisational units)
- Concepts and Coordination
- Spiez Laboratory
- National Emergency Operations Centre
- Training
- Infrastructure
- Support.
National Emergency Operations Centre
The NEOC is the federal authority for exceptional incidents. It is available round the clock on every day of the year and capable of deploying for operations at one hour's notice. The NEOC's tasks include managing incidents relating to radioactivity, major chemical accidents, dam bursts and natural dangers. As far as radioactivity is concerned, the centre is authorised to order immediate measures for the protection of the population. In an emergency the NEOC is the first line of contact of the cantons for all civil protection matters. The NEOC has served as reporting and situation centre of the Confederation since 2007.
Telematics coordination - Polycom
POLYCOM is the national radio system of the rescue organisations and security authorities (BORS) which is being established in Switzerland in stages. It enables radio contact within as well as between the various organisations such as Border Guard, police, fire brigade, medical rescue, civil defence and supportive military units. The goal of the project is that all BORS at federal, cantonal and communal levels are able to communicate by radio and transfer data on the basis of a uniform and homogeneous infrastructure.
Protection of cultural assets
Sichern und respektieren – diese zwei Hauptforderungen gilt es beim Schutz von Kulturgütern gemäss Haager Abkommen von 1954 zu befolgen. Gerade in jüngerer Vergangenheit hatte sich aber gezeigt, dass den beiden Grundsätzen längst nicht mehr oberste Priorität zugemessen wurde.
