New National Disaster Risk Assessment in Switzerland: What’s New, What’s Different?
Dr. Stefan Brem | Federal Office for Civill Protection, Bern, Switzerland
Abstract
The national disaster risk assessment “Disasters and Emergencies in Switzerland” (DES) analyses a broad spectrum of hazards relevant to civil protection and disaster management in Switzerland. The fundamental stages of an integrated risk assessment process include identifying relevant hazards, developing scenarios, assessing risks, and launching a risk dialogue with decision-makers and the broader public. Risk assessment is a continuous process because the risk landscape is constantly changing. The national risk assessment is therefore updated periodically: The Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) published its first risk report in 2013 and the next one in July 2015.
In light of this, all DES products were reviewed and updated in the third round of analysis between 2017 and 2020: The risk assessment method has been further refined. The 33 hazard dossiers have been reviewed and complemented by 11 additional ones. All hazard scenarios for deliberate events (e.g. terrorist attack, cyber attack, unrest) have been assessed using a new plausibility method. In this talk, I will provide background information on this assessment process and insights on how this process has developed and how the results are used.
Dr. Stefan Brem | Federal Office for Civill Protection, Bern, Switzerland
Since 2007, Dr. Stefan Brem leads the section Risk Analysis and Research Coordination at the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP). Since October 2020, he is also the Chief Risk Officer of the FOCP, and responsible for its strategic risk management. His section implements the national strategy on Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) and undertakes risk and vulnerability assessments in critical sub-sectors based on the national strategy on the protection of Switzerland against cyber risks. Under Stefan, the section conducts a national disaster risk assessment using an all-hazard approach, including a comprehensive hazard catalogue, hazard files, impact and risk diagrams. It supports the Cantons (constituent states) with their civil protection-related risk assessments and preparedness planning.