Your individual responsibility in the event of crisis or war

In the event of a crisis or war, we all need to contribute to Sweden’s resilience. The role of The County Administrative Board is to coordinate civil preparedness and civil defence in the county. As a private individual, you are responsible for ensuring that you can manage on your own for an initial period, so that the most vulnerable members of society can get the help they need.

An uncertain world

There are various risks and threats that we may face, including extreme weather, infectious diseases, disruptions to vital IT systems and organised crime.

The military threat to Sweden has increased and we must be prepared for the worst – an armed attack. War is the ultimate threat to our freedom.

There are other ways to impact and harm our country apart from military force, including cyberattacks, influence campaigns, terrorism and sabotage. These events can happen at any time, and many are already happening here and now.

Responsibility in the event of societal disruption

When they are major disruptions to society, many people need help. Society’s resources must primarily be used to help the most vulnerable, such as the elderly and sick. Most of us will need to manage on our own for at least a week.

Civil preparedness in Sweden is based on everyone taking responsibility. Your personal responsibilities include being prepared for a crisis. You need to be able to manage a difficult situation and provide for your own immediate needs as and when they arise, without the support of the authorities.

You are part of Sweden’s preparedness. By being well-prepared at home, you help society as a whole to cope under severe conditions.

Here are some examples of how you can get involved in Sweden’s collective preparedness:

• Join a voluntary defence organisation that has specific duties within the framework of Sweden’s total defence system. There are also other non-profit organisations and faith communities that play important roles.
• Attend a training a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• If you can, donate blood.
• Talk to other people in your local community about how to strengthen your collective preparedness – with neighbours in your block of flats or residential area, for example.

Home preparedness

Make sure that you and your family can cope with daily life without the societal functions you usually rely on. Most of us are quite capable of managing for a period if we plan in advance. Prepare yourself so that you don’t need to get everything at once when a serious incident does occur.

The most important things are drinking water, food and heat, and being able to receive important information. Most of us will need to manage on our own for at least a week.

• 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

Digital security and psychological defence

Digitalisation makes us vulnerable to cyberattacks that can shut down vital IT systems. You contribute to Sweden’s resilience by handling information in a secure manner, both at home and at work. For example, by not clicking on links in emails or opening attachments from unknown senders, and by creating long passwords that combine letters, numbers and symbols.

Foreign powers and non-state actors outside Sweden use disinformation, deception and propaganda to influence us. These attempts to influence us occur on a daily basis, mostly online and on social media. The aim is to sew distrust and to break our will to defend ourselves.

Be alert for content that arouses strong feelings; only share information if you know it comes from a reliable source and try to corroborate the information with multiple sources. In the event of a serious incident, search for confirmed information from public authorities.

Civil defence shelters

Civil defence shelters are intended to protect the population in the event of a military attack during wartime. There are shelters in towns and cities all over Sweden. The property owner is responsible for the maintenance of the civil defence shelter. This may be a private or a municipal property owner. A private property owner may be an individual, a property company or a cooperative housing association. In peacetime, the shelters may be used for other purposes, but they must be ready for use within 48 hours.

The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) has overall responsibility for civil defence shelters and conducts inspections to ensure that there are no deficiencies.

You are not designated a specific civil defence shelter – evacuate to the nearest one. You can obtain more information about the civil defence shelter system, where your nearest shelter is and who is responsible for it from the MSB.

Find your nearest civil defence shelter, The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (in Swedish) External link.

The County Administrative Board's role in the event of societal disruption

In the event of major societal disruption, The County Administrative Board’s role is to coordinate work within the county. Relevant societal actors – such as municipalities, the emergency services, healthcare providers and the police – share information and intelligence in order to coordinate measures.

During a major disruption, we coordinate communication within the county so that municipalities, healthcare providers, the police and others can provide relevant and accurate information to the public and the media.

We also take necessary measures to prevent societal disruption, or to limit any damage, and provide feedback on experience gained during societal disruptions.

The County Administrative Board is the highest civil total defence authority in the county and we cooperate with the Swedish Armed Forces on total defence planning.