Emergency Planning in Switzerland

Abstract

Switzerland is a relatively safe and neutral country. The main risks of losing information, though, are through water and fire. Risk management includes emergency planning to quickly react against floods - lakes, rivers, cascades, glaciers and dams represent a wealthy use of hydropower in this alpine country - and fire or worse, arson. In practice, not many entities have yet thought of writing an emergency plan for saving their archives, and they find themselves lost when something happens, because they are unable to reactivate their business with vital documents in a couple of days… A special entity within the Swiss Civil Protection, called the Cultural Property Protection (PBC) specializes in training young men to protect cultural goods in their region. They will inspect the place, create an inventory with pictures, and propose an emergency plan. When an accident or natural disaster happens, they will be called on duty and asked to physically protect the goods by taking them out of the damaged building, ensure packing and store them in a safe place. How this works, under which legislation and what practical tools (inventory sheet, emergency evacuation sheet) the PBC uses to achieve this mission are the aspects that this article will develop.