Civil Protection in Austria

Austrian Civil Protection Association

The Austrian Civil Protection Association (ÖZSV)  ,which encompasses one Federal association and nine regional associations, is responsible for informing the general public about Civil Protection, self-protection measures, and how to behave in emergency situations. The goal of the Civil Protection Association is to prepare people in Austria for everyday hazards but also for major disasters. It is especially important to assist people in identifying risks and thereby prevent accidents as well as mitigate damages.
According to its statutes of 2011, the objectives of the ÖZSV‘s federal association are as follows:

• Promoting the concept of self-protection through events, lectures and disseminating information to the general public
• Coordination of and collaboration with the ÖZSV’s regional associations
• Educating and advising the general public in the field of Civil Protection, and cooperation with the competent authorities and rescue organizations
• Preparing and evaluating proposals for legal regulations in connection with Civil Protection
• Exchange of best practice with Civil Protection organizations from abroad

Unlike the fire brigade and rescue organizations, the Austrian Civil Protection Association   has no operational tasks, but mainly is responsible for informing the general public. The federal association of the ÖZSV in this respect is active as the “extended arm of the MOI” and circulates this self-protection information to the general public on several levels:

• through general public relations activities
• through organization of the Safety Information Centers (SIZ) at the municipal level
• through the Children’s Safety “Olympics” “SAFETY-Tour”