A visit to the Icelandic Meteorological Office

One of the main partners in civil defence

The Civil Protection Committee of the Capital Region held its meeting at the Icelandic Meteorological Institute at the end of last week. The meeting had a slightly different format to usual, as the committee, along with deputy members of the Civil Defence Committee, the steering group of the risk assessment project, and the working group on emergency management for the capital region, visited the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO). The Met Office is one of the main pillars and key partners of the municipalities in civil protection.

Research, monitoring and information provision

The Icelandic Meteorological Office is responsible for monitoring, information provision and research, which are of immense importance for civil protection and the public good. Staff from the Icelandic Meteorological Office presented the organisation's role, emphasising the bridge between science and society and the importance of the Icelandic Meteorological Office in the response chain and risk management. Among other things, the MET Office's colour-coded warning system, the main hazard assessment projects undertaken by the MET Office, and the status of the volcanic hazard assessment for the capital region were reviewed. The group also visited the MET Office's measurement site for the capital region.

Civil Defence Committee of the Capital Region

All the municipalities in the capital region, Garðabær, Hafnarfjarðarbær, Kópavogsbær, Mosfellsbær, the City of Reykjavík, Seltjarnarnesbær and Kjósarhreppur, form the Capital Region Civil Protection Committee (AHS).  The AHS is composed of one elected representative from each local council, in addition to the municipalities' chief executives, and two substitutes are appointed by the local councils. The chair of the committee is the Mayor of Reykjavík and the vice-chair is the Mayor of Hafnarfjörður. The Chief Constable of the Capital Region sits on the committee and has a deputy. The committee also includes observers from the Icelandic Red Cross and the Landsbjörg rescue association, who each have a deputy. The staff of the Civil Protection Committee consist of an executive director and a department head. Both attend the committee's meetings and work on its projects between meetings.

Thank you, Met Office!

Our sincere thanks to the staff of the Icelandic Meteorological Office for their warm welcome and the professional and interesting information about the organisation's important work.