International Symposium on Mitigative Measures against Snow ...

<strong>International</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong> on Mitigative Measures against Snow Avalanches
Egilsstaðir, Iceland, March 11–14, 2008
moved to The Ministry for the Environment and additional responsibility was given to the
Meteorological Office.
Even though the objective of the Act on Civil Protection (No. 94/1962) is to protect human
life and property from natural disaster the Parliament finally decided in 1997 that special
legislation for avalanche measures was crucial since a substantial number of people in several
Icelandic towns and villages had lost their lives in areas where avalanche risk is high and the
economic loss is high. A total of 193 persons were killed during the period 1901 – 2000 in
snow avalanches and landslides and the direct and operational loss from 1974 – 2000 is about
5.8 billion IKR (72 million USD) (about 3.3 billion (41 million USD) is direct economic loss
due to avalanches and landslides) (Jóhannesson and Arnalds, 2001).
This new legislation became effective in 1997 (Act No. 49/1997). According to the new
legislation the collaboration between the Civil Protection and the Meteorological Office was
specified especially in Article 5, 6 and 7.
According to Article 5 the Icelandic Civil Protection shall prepare the emergency plans and
the instruction and public education regarding the danger of snow and landslides. Also
organize and carry out rescue and relief operation as a result of danger or damage from snow
and landslides.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office issues a warning of localized avalanche danger, and
declares a state of alert, and decides when the state of alert is terminated. This is all done in
collaboration with the Icelandic Civil Protection.
According to Article 7, the Chief of Police may decide to evacuate houses in cooperation with
the local Civil Protection Committee due to the risk of snow avalanche.
Response capabilities were improved as to facilitate the search and rescue of victims (Act
43/2003).
4. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Previous to the 1995 disasters and the Act on Protective Measures against Avalanches and
Landslides (49/1997), the risk management process on prevention, preparedness and response
was very complicated. The Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry for
the Environment, the Ministry of Justice, the Civil Protection Unit (AVRIK) and Council, the
Meteorological Office, committees and local governments, all had their individual functions
within the snow avalanche management process. All these different governmental bodies
worked parallel, and each performing part of the puzzle without a holistic approach. Then,
when disaster struck, the coordination between the different governmental bodies was
incomplete.
Even though there was a political and Parliamentarian will for improvements in the avalanche
preparedness, prevention and response, funding was lacking.
The mitigation planning process in emergencies is continuous and includes multitude of
organizations. It needs a multidisciplinary perspective, research and coordination across
agencies and at-risk communities, not in a parallel and with unconnected efforts, but with
integrated work within these disciplines and organizations.
The goal of crisis management and crisis decision making process must be transparent with a
holistic approach. By simplifying the management process in 1997, and entrusting increasing
Jóhannesdóttir and Reynisson 185