Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP

Civil protection system
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  Mission
  
  The mission of civil protection is to protect the population and its vital resources in the event of disasters, emergencies and armed conflict.
  
  Civil protection organisation (CPO)
  
  The CPO, an additional civil protection organisation, cares for persons in need of protection, and supports the partner organisations over longer periods of time.
  
  Structure, command and management
  
  Civil protection is an integrated management, protection, rescue and relief system.
  
  Partner organisations
  
  The civil protection system must ensure that the five partner organisations: the police, the fire, health care and technical services, as well as the CPO cooperate effectively.
Alerting and informing
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  Alerting the public
  
  Disasters can occur at very short notice and sometimes without any advance warning. This is why it is so important to ensure a rapid flow of information and to warn the population in time.
  
  Polyalert – the system for alerting the public
  
  In Switzerland approx. 5,000 stationary sirens are maintained to alert the public. The highly reliable system by which the sirens are remote-controlled is designated as ‘Polyalert’.
  
  Alarm signals
  
  The general alert is sounded when there is a possible threat to the population. Should there be a risk of flooding, people living downhill from dams are alerted by the water alert alarm signal.
  
  Information by radio
  
  The authorities can inform by radio at any time. Technical and organisational provisions have been made to this end.
  
  Testing sirens
  
  Every year, on the first Wednesday in February, all sirens across Switzerland are tested.
  
  Issuing natural danger warnings to the public
  
  The relevant government agencies are constantly monitoring the situation with regard to natural dangers, and are responsible for issuing warnings to the authorities and the public.
Tasks
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  Hazards and Risks
  
  In civil protection, hazard and risk analyses provide the basis for action planning in the areas of prevention and precaution for coping with catastrophes and emergencies.
  
  The NBC Protection
  
  NBC protection covers all measures to defend against and prevent nuclear (N), biological (B) and chemical (C) threats and hazards.
  
  Protective structures
  
  Protective structures were designed primarily to protect the population (shelters), and to ensure the readiness of civil protection resources (protected premises) during an armed conflict.
  
  Critical infrastructure protection
  
  The term „critical infrastructures“ refers to those facilities and organizations, whose disruption could cause severe damage on a supra-regional level, e.g. in the energy sector, the communication...
  
  Civil protection training
  
  Civil protection training focuses primarily on dealing with disasters and emergencies, and is a cantonal responsibility. The cantons are supported by the FOCP.
  
  Resources Management at Federal Level
  
  Resources Management at Federal Level (ResMaB) coordinates the deployment of all resources that are available at the federal level.
  
  The protection of Cultural Property in Switzerland
  
  These pages offer you basic information about Switzerland's Protection of Cultural Property, about organisation, protective measures and legal basis.
  
  Management and operational communications systems
  
  The FOCP develops and operates secure communications networks for the rescue and security authorities and organisations or coordinates the necessary work. These systems include Polycom, SDVS (secure...
Publications and services
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  Current
  
  War in Ukraine
  
  Downloads
  
  Documents on hazards and risks
  
  Documents protective structures
  Basics
  Service
  
  E-billing
About us
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  Members of the management board
  
  The heads of the business units are on the management board of the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP).
  
  Basic FOCP legislation
  
  The tasks and competencies of the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) are laid down in a range of acts, ordinances and directives.
  
  Organisation of the FOCP
  
  The FOCP consists of the following business units: Civil Protection, Spiez Laboratory, National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), Training, Telematic and Resources.
  
  Locations and contacts
  
  The FOCP has its offices in various places. Its headquarters are at the Guisanplatz 1B in Bern.
  
  Tasks of the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP)
  
  The FOCP supports federal authorities, cantons and partner organisations of the civil protection system in preventing collective risks and in handling incidents.
  
  Job vacancies in the FOCP
  
  Autonomous work, networked thinking and a constant willingness to learn more are expected and promoted in the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP).

War in Ukraine: Current information on civil protection

Due to the war in Ukraine, the Federal Office of Civil Protection (FOCP) as well as the cantonal and municipal authorities are faced with numerous enquiries from citizens. Current information about civil protection can be found on this page.

Further informations

Civil protection at the federal level

The Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) supports the cantons and municipalities as well as the part-ner organisations in their civil protection activities. It includes the following branches: Civil Protection Policy, Spiez Laboratory, National Emergency Operations Centre, Training, Infrastructure and Resources.

Further informations

The civil protection system

Civil protection is an integrated management, protection, rescue and relief system. The partner organisations – police, fire services, health services, technical services and the CPO (an additional civil protection organisation) – are in charge of their own specific tasks, and provide mutual support. Joint management ensures coordinated planning and preparation, and operational command in case of deployment.

Further informations

Alerting the public

Disasters can occur at very short notice and sometimes without any advance warning. This is why it is so important to ensure a fast flow of information and to alert the public in time. The FOCP will continue to develop the system over the coming years: in addition to the existing alarm with sirens new media are to be used for communicating incidents such as cell phone and Internet.

Further informations