Modification of emergency management systems based on experiences of Germany and Ukraine

Abstract

This paper is aimed at studying the systemic problems of decentralized and centralized civil protection systems during the response to local accidents and large-scale disasters and the development of a modified emergency management system that would combine the advantages of both systems. The study used evaluative and comparative research methods, in which data were collected from a comprehensive review of the literature, regulatory framework, and a description of the processes during response to various accidents. The analysis of functional principles of civil protection systems in the Federal Republic of Germany and in Ukraine showed that the decentralized structure of civil protection has benefits in the elimination of local accidents, while in the response to large-scale disasters, the centralized structure of civil protection has significant advantages. According to the results of the analysis, alternative modifications of the classical system of emergency management are determined. A modified emergency management system has been drafted, which simplifies the management process due to the presence of standard algorithms or operating procedures for the elimination of typical local accidents while, at the same time, has the ability to use a multi-level centralized management system with clear lines of command in large-scale disasters.