Individual responsibility in the event of a societal disruption
In the event of a major societal disruption, everyone needs to help. The County Administrative Board’s role is to coordinate the county's cooperative efforts. You, as a private individual, have the responsibility to initially be able to care for yourself, in order to make sure that the most vulnerable get the help they need.
In the event of a major societal disruption, many people are in need of help. Society’s resources must, in the first place, be used to help the most vulnerable, such as elderly and sick. This means that you, initially, must be able to care for yourself, in order to make sure that the most vulnerable get the help they need.
Individual responsibility in the event of a societal disruption
Societal crisis preparedness is based on everyone taking responsibility. Individual responsibility means that you, in the event of a crisis, must be prepared. You must be prepared to cope with a difficult situation and any immediate needs that may arise without the support of the authorities.
To be able to care for oneself without water and electricity is not easy. But, most of us can cope with it for some time, if we have given it some thought before it happens. Therefore, it is good if you are already preparing to cope with a societal disruption.
Pack a ”crisis response box”
Most of us have a smoke alarm in our house, and many also have fire extinguishers, in case of fire. But, how well prepared for unforeseen societal crisis or disasters are we? In the event of a societal disruption, the society’s resources must be allocated towards the most vulnerable. Therefore, the vast majority must be able to care for themselves for a while.
Make sure that you and your nearest can cope with everyday life, even if the society does not work as you are accustomed to. The most important is to have drinking water, food and heat as well as being able to receive important information.
Please collect the necessities and store them in one place – so that you are prepared in the event of a societal disruption. A “crisis response box” may contain:
- Medications
- First aid kit
- Washcloths
- Blankets
- Sleeping bags
- Warm clothes
- Dry foods
- Cans
- Water jugs
- Open-Air kitchen
- Battery operated radio
- Flash lights
- Candles
- Matches and lighters
- Fire extinguisher
- Important phone numbers
- Contacts
You can find more information, and good and concrete advice about issues that concern your safety (on page 10) in the brochure "If crisis or war comes". You can also find useful information on the website krisinformation.se.
If crisis or war comes (brochure), The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) External link.
Finding Help and Services, Krisinformation.se External link.
Shelter
Shelters should be able offer protection for the population during military attacks during a war. There are many shelters in cities and urban areas. The property owner is responsible for the maintenance of the shelters. A property owner can be private or municipal. Private property owners can be private individuals, property companies or condominium associations. The authority for social security and preparedness (MSB) has overall responsibility for shelters and checks that the shelters do not have deficiencies.
More information about how shelters work, where you have the nearest shelter and who is responsible for shelters can be found at MSB.
The County Administrative Board's role during a societal disruption
During bigger societal disruptions, the County Administrative Board coordinates the county's efforts. The affected actors, such as municipalities, rescue services, healthcare and police, share information and overview of the situation with the aim of coordinating actions.
We coordinate the communicaton in the county during societal disruptions so that municipalities, healthcare and the police, among others, communicate relevant and correct information to the public and media.
The County Administrative Board also works with preventive measures to prevent social disruptions from happening, limiting the damages caused by social disruptions, and be able to be able to bring back experiences after a social disturbance.