Preparedness refers to planning ahead for possible future crises and incidents that may interfere with the everyday lives of organisations and people.
The statutory duty of state authorities, businesses and municipalities is to ensure the best possible performance of their duties in all security conditions.
Self-preparedness refers to the activities of private individuals and communities aimed at preventing accidents and preparing for emergencies.
The Rescue Department supports the preparedness planning of municipalities in its area and advises municipal residents on issues related to self-preparedness.
Civil defence
The purpose of civil defence is to protect the population against damage caused by war and other comparable conditions and to limit the damage and mitigate its consequences. The tasks of the civil defence include warning, evacuation, shelters, firefighting and rescue operations and medical care. The responsibility for civil defence lies with the rescue service and with the authorities that also under normal circumstances handle corresponding tasks.
Civil defence shelters
Shelters are designed to protect the population during a military attack. Under normal circumstances, shelters often function as hobby rooms or warehouses. A shelter refers to a separate room in or next to a building, or a separate building, whose task is to provide people with protection in places where they also normally move, work and live. The shelters protect against explosion and splinters, collapsing buildings, pressure waves, fires, chemical weapons and ionizing radiation. (Civil defence shelters, (SPEK) in finnish)
The call to use shelters is given by the authorities. The time to put a shelter in operation is 72 hours.
The shelters are usually located in connection with larger housing companies or workplaces. Shelters in public buildings are intended for those who live, study, care or work there.
A high-rise building can have its own shelter or a shelter that is common to several houses. It can be an either shared shelter for two housing or real estate companies located next to each other or a shelter that is common to several buildings in the same company. Smaller housing companies and detached houses generally have no shelters. In Länsi-Uusimaa there are no public shelters.
If the situation requires it, the authorities provide separate instructions on what to do in the buildings and properties that do not have their own shelter. Such measures can be, for example, seeking protection indoors or building temporary protection.
The shelters have been marked with an international mark, which is a blue triangle on an orange background.
Information about the home's or workplace's shelter can be found in the property's rescue plan.
Emergency plan (SPEK)
According to the Rescue Act, the maintenance of a shelter and its devices and equipment belongs to the building's owners and owners.
More information and frequently asked questions about civil defence and shelters (PDF)
