Our society is vulnerable, which is why, as a security authority, we prepare for disruptions and exceptional situations in normal conditions as well as for emergency conditions that may, at the most extreme, be caused by an armed conflict.
Societal, technological, economic, environmental and political changes affect our operating environment. There has been a fundamental change in the security and operating environment in Finland and Europe, which requires comprehensive preparedness for the economy, crisis resilience, security of supply, internal security, cyber security, hybrid influencing and critical infrastructure in accordance with the comprehensive security model.
Problems caused by disruptions are prepared for in advance so that, in a crisis situation, we can act as efficiently as possible to protect people, property and functions from all the dangers that threaten them. Preparedness measures include contingency planning, continuity management, advance preparations, training and preparedness exercises.
Helsinki is the hub of Finland’s administration, economy, transport and culture. Ensuring the continuity of operations in the capital in all security situations is vital for the entire country. Preparation for securing the vital functions of the population and society is a key part of this preparedness and the work of the Rescue Department.
Preparedness is carried out in cooperation between the state and the City Group’s various divisions, public utilities, limited companies and companies, institutions, property owners and citizens within the scope of self-preparedness. The Act obliges owners and holders of buildings, industrial and business operators, divisions, business enterprise and other communities to prepare for measures to protect the persons and property on the site and the environment.
Contingency planning
Ensuring the continuity of the Rescue Department’s operations, i.e. continuity management, is a strategic and operational activity, the purpose of which is to manage our own service production, i.e. our statutory duties, as free from disturbance as possible, so that society’s ability to function can be safeguarded even in the event of disruptions and exceptional situations.
Contingency planning is a process for identifying threats related to various security situations and their effects on the organisation’s tasks and operations and for securing the organisation’s own functional capacity and performance in the best possible way. Advance planning also ensures the ability to return to normal conditions in a controlled manner.
Ensuring the continuity of the Rescue Department’s operations and security of supply are related to normal conditions, disruptions and emergency conditions. In normal conditions, we have normal preparedness and are prepared for disruptions and emergency conditions. In the event of disruptions and emergency conditions, we increase our preparedness and prepare to secure our critical operations and prioritise our operations.
Read more:
Instructions for the structural sheltering of the population Helsinki 2023
Civil defence instructions for clients of the Rescue Department
