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Review of the Italian National Civil Protection System: 2010

This OECD review of risk management policies focuses on the Italian civil protection system and its means to prepare for and react to earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, landslides and even volcanoes. The Italian National Civil Protection Service can rapidly mobilise operational resources for emergency management and recovery both at home, throughout Europe and around the world. Its components constantly research known hazards to better understand and model vulnerabilities, while technical experts co-operate in real time to monitor events as they unfold and operate the early warning systems. These professionals are supported by a highly organised and motivated volunteer service unseen elsewhere in OECD countries. What makes these many parts of the civil protection system work as one effective whole, however, is its governance structure under the direct authority of the Italian Prime Minister.  

Recent years have seen a steep increase in the frequency and economic impacts of disasters, and Italy has been no exception. In addition to increased seasonal variance linked to climate change, the devastating earthquakes around L’Aquilla in 2009 make Italy a case study for policy-makers, emergency management practitioners, academics and international organisations who are searching for solutions, notably in the areas of disaster damage reduction policies. The Italian civil protection system offers a rich source of best practices for their consideration. The National Department of Civil Protection in particular, as the hub of the National Civil Protection Service, provides a model of professionalism and leadership. The review report also identifies many challenges facing the Italian civil protection system and areas where improvements are still needed.

Table of Contents

Executive summary
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. Governance and organisational structure
Chapter 3. Analysis of Italy’s civil protection system
Chapter 4. Risk assessment, prevention and early warning
Chapter 5. Risk communication and preventative information
Chapter 6. Preparedness and real time response
Chapter 7. Post-event issues, emergency overcoming
Chapter 8. Synthesis of conclusions and recommendations
Annex A. Principal legislation and operational components
Annex B. Critical infrastructure operator components within NCPS
Annex C. Review self-assessment questionnaires
Annex D. Presentation of INGV, RELUIS and the EUCENTRE
Annex E. List of interviewees
Bibliography

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Bassin de la Loire, France: La Gestion des risques d'inondation, 2010

Les évolutions urbanistiques, démographiques, et même climatiques, ont un impact sur les questions auxquelles doivent répondre les pays de l’OCDE en matière de protection de la vie et du bien-être des citoyens ou de garantie de la continuité de l’activité économique. En France les plus grands risques naturels connus concernent les inondations. Alors que plusieurs politiques publiques sur la gestion des risques d’inondation sont adoptées, celles-ci sont mises en œuvre à différents niveaux administratifs. Dans cette étude de cas, le Programme de l'OCDE sur l’avenir analyse une gestion intégrée dans le bassin de la Loire et examine les défis rencontrés. Au nombre des questions les plus cruciales figurent la concertation des parties-prenantes, l’investissement dans l’entretien des digues et le changement climatique.

Table de matières:

  - Synthèse
  - Executive summary
  - Introduction : le bassin versant de la Loire
  - Approche stratégique de la gestion des risques d’inondation
  - Évaluation du risque d’inondation
  - Prévention
  - Mesures structurelles préventives
  - Communication du risque
  - Gestion des situations d’urgence
  - Retour à la normale
  - Annexe A. Questionnaires d’auto-évaluation
  - Annexe B. Parties prenantes participant à la mission d’experts
  - Annexe C. Groupe de pilotage du projet « les politiques de gestion des risques »
  - Bibliographie

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Japan: Large-Scale Floods and Earthquakes 2009

Damages to economic assets resulting from natural disasters have soared in the past fifteen years, and climate change models forecast intensified exposure to extreme weather in many OECD countries. The occurrence of flooding in Europe for the period 1998-2006 more than doubled compared with 1990-1998, while in North America the spectre of hurricane season is an annual threat to coastal communities. Seismic risks remain a key concern for countries such as Mexico and Turkey, both of which have a perilous record of earthquakes. As economic assets and populations continue to concentrate in urban centres, the damages from such disasters will increasingly test emergency response capabilities and the public’s resilience. Governments at national, regional and local levels will need to efficiently and effectively manage a broad value chain of risk management policies to confront these challenges.

This OECD review of risk management policies focuses on Japan, a country whose geography, topography and climate subject it to serious natural hazards, especially seismic activity and typhoons. This report looks at how Japan monitors, prepares for and responds to floods and earthquakes. It identifies good practices and areas where improvements could be made. The case studies consider several issues of particular interest to policymakers, such as how to take climate change into account for long term policy planning related to large scale floods, and Japan’s unique earthquake insurance scheme for damages whose probability and impact are hard to accurately assess. Moreover, the report offers lessons that other countries can draw from on the integration of various phases in the risk management cycle - from risk assessment to disaster recovery.

Table of contents

Part 1. Large Scale Floods
Executive Summary
Chapter 1. Introduction: Flood Risks in Japan
Chapter 2. Integrated Approach to Flood Risk Management
Chapter 3. Risk Assessment and Communication
Chapter 4. Flood Prevention and Damage Mitigation
Chapter 5. Emergency Response
Chapter 6. Recovery
Annex I.1. Basin Territory River Administration in France
Annex I.2. The United Kingdom Administration of Flood Risk Management
Annex I.3. Flood Protection and Climate Change - the Bavarian Adaptation Strategy
Annex I.4. The United Kingdom Use of Flood Risk Maps
Annex I.5. International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine
Annex I.6. The Dutch System for Emergency and Crisis Management
Annex I.7. Administrative Organisation of Emergency Response in Sweden
Annex I.8. Post-Disaster Experiences Collection and Communication in France
Annex I.9. The Post-Disaster Recovery Stage: A Step towards Enforcement of Risk Culture
Annex I.11. Self-Assessment Questionnaire
Annex I.12. List of Institutions Interviewed
Bibliography

Part 2. Earthquakes
Executive Summary
Chapter 7. Introduction: Seismic Risks in Japan
Chapter 8. The General Policy Framework
Chapter 9. Risk Assessment and Communication
Chapter 10. Disaster Prevention
Chapter 11. Emergency Preparedness and Response
Chapter 12. Post-Event Issues
Annex II.1. Methodology
Annex II.2. Self-Assessment Questionnaires
Annex II.3. List of Institutions Interviewed
Annex II.4. Members of the Steering Group
Bibliography

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Sweden: The Safety of Older People, 2007

As the share of the population aged 65 and over grows rapidly in the next decades across most of the OECD, the number of fall-related injuries could rise dramatically, and with it, the strains on hospitals, medical services, social services and public budgets. This OECD review of risk management policies focuses on Sweden because, with the ageing of its society already at a quite advanced stage, it exemplifies many of the current and future problems that OECD countries face in addressing fall-related injuries and fatalities among the elderly. The report looks at Sweden's policies in the area of older people's safety and well-being, seeking out and identifying good practices and areas where improvements could be made. It offers lessons that other countries can also draw from. While the report underscores the importance of the management of fall accidents, it also emphasizes the more general point that multidisciplinary and forward-looking approaches to safety and risk are essential for any policy concerning older people.

Table of contents

Executive Summary
Introduction
Chapter 1. The Strategic Approach to the Safety of the Elderly
The Demographic Context: An Ageing Society
Policy Making in Swede: A Decentralised Government
The Economic Context: Public Budgets under Pressure
Chapter 2. The Legal and Regulatory Framework
EU Policy and Regulations for the Protection of the Elderly
Health Care
Swedish Legislation and Regulation
Application and Enforcement
Chapter 3. Risk and Safety Assessment
The Information Base about Risks and Vulnerabilities
Research and Development
Chapter 4. Prevention
Effective Primary Prevention
Experience Sharing
Chapter 5. Medical Care
The Role of Medical Care in Fall Prevention
Medication as a Risk Factor
Rehabilitation
Bibliography

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Norway: Information Security, 2006

The development of information and communication technologies and networks, and in particular that of the Internet, has gone hand in hand with the emergence of new types of malevolent actions called cyber-crime: viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and the like. While a number of factors make a strong case for governmental action in the area of information security, there are also important limits to what governments can achieve. This review, the first in a series of risk management policy reviews being conducted by the OECD, identifies areas of good practice in Norway's policies for information security, as well as areas where improvements could be made. For areas that could benefit from improvement, it proposes opportunities for action and, when possible, suggests alternatives.

Table of Contents
Chapter 1. The Norwegian Strategy for Information Security
Chapter 2. Assessing Information Security Risks
Chapter 3. Protecting Information Systems
Chapter 4. Managing Incidents, Emergencies, and Crises
Chapter 5. Strengthening the Foundations of Security