Iceland

• Capital: Reykjavik
• Population: 320 000
• Language: Icelandic

• 78 municipalities
• Emergency line is 112
• The Ministry of Justice has lead responsibility in civil protection, except for health issues which are under jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health.
• Legislation provides direction for the organization of civil protection, the role of civil services and specific enterprises, evacuation, stockpiling and general preparedness.
• The National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police - Civil Protection Department has the daily administrative role and responsibility for researching risk factors and co-ordination of measures to reduce risks.
• Regional Commissioners of Police have operational responsibility and are supported by local civil protection committees.
• Directorate of Health is in charge of psycho-social support to victims and is assisted by the Red Cross, local hospitals, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland and municipalities.
• Special agreements include the role of the two leading volunteer organizations that provide auxiliary services in civil protection, the Icelandic Search and Rescue Organization (ICE-SAR) and the Icelandic Red Cross.
• General all-hazard plans exist and event-specific plans e.g. road tunnels, airports, passenger ships and volcanic eruptions.

Icelandic Red Cross

• The Icelandic Red Cross has a legislative and rather well defined role in civil protection.
• The main tasks of the Icelandic Red Cross in civil protection are humanitarian assistance centres and psycho-social support. All 50 branches have contingency plans.
• The Icelandic Red Cross is responsible for training volunteers for humanitarian assistance centres (mass care centres and family support centres) as well as operating them in the event of an emergency.
• The Icelandic Red Cross has representatives In the National Emergency Coordination Centre as well as local Emergency Operation Centres.
• The Icelandic Red Cross runs a Helpline (1717) which becomes Civil Protection Hotline in the event of an emergency.
• The Icelandic Red Cross is responsible for quality control of first aid education in Iceland. It trains first aid instructors as well as instructors in psychological support and offers courses to the public.
• The Icelandic Red Cross has an agreement with the Ministry of Justice about ambulance services in Iceland. The Icelandic Red Cross owns and equips the ambulances but the Ministry of Justice provides the personnel.

Useful Links

Civil Protection Department