Emergency management

The role of local authority emergency management

The primary duty of local authorities is to promote the safety and welfare of their citizens. The emergency management authority is responsible for coordinating actions and implementing emergency measures when a crisis occurs. The emergency management authority prioritises statutory services and socially critical activities, ensures the public good and minimises potential societal damage.

An emergency can arise when the safety and infrastructure of the community are threatened, for example, by natural hazards, technological risks, threats to the environment and health, or any other dangerous situation. In an emergency, the core services of the municipality are maintained to uphold the most essential operations. The Mayor, together with the Town Council, exercises the executive authority of the municipality. The municipality's professional departments, offices and companies are each individually responsible for the services they provide.

The emergency management operates in accordance with the municipality's contingency plan.

The emergency management team of Hafnarfjörður consists of:

• Valdimar Víðisson, Mayor
• Sigurður Nordal, Director of the Administrative Department
• Fanney Dóróthe Halldórsdóttir, Director of the Education and Public Health Directorate
• Guðlaug Ósk Gísladóttir, Director of the Department of Family and Child Affairs
• Helga Benediktsdóttir, Director of Finance
• Sigurður Haraldsson, Director of the Environment and Planning Department
• Árdís Ármannsdóttir, Director of the Service and Development Department
• Ludwig Geirsson, Port Manager
• Anna Bára Gunnarsdóttir, Emergency Control Officer and Head of the Service Desk 

The substitutes are:

• Helga Stefánsdóttir, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment and Planning
• Árný Steindóra Steindórsdóttir, Deputy Director of the Directorate of Education and Public Health
• Lind Einarsdóttir, Human Resources Manager

Civil Contingencies Department of the National Police Commissioner

Emergency management works closely with Civil Defence Department Director of the National Police.

In accordance with Article 5 Act on Civil Protection The Commissioner of the National Police is responsible for civil defence activities. The Civil Defence Act provides for coordinated civil defence responses to deal with the consequences of a state of emergency that could threaten the lives and health of the public, the environment, and property.

The Civil Contingencies Department of the National Police Commissioner coordinates civil contingency plans for local authorities and institutions, and oversees their review and maintenance. The Civil Contingencies Department's tasks include collaborating with organisations on emergency planning and working on the development and review of response plans.

All important information about public liability and risk can be found on Civil Defence website along with information on prevention and education, including response plans.