The Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK)
The BBK was established in May 2004 in response to the changed security situation. Together with the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), the BBK as superior federal authority performs tasks of civil security preparedness within the remit of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, especially in the fields of civil protection and disaster assistance. It provides support in these fields for the Federal Ministry and, with their consent, the responsible supreme federal authorities. In particular, the BBK is responsible for the following:
Planning and preparing civil protection measures as part of overall state security preparedness (emergency preparedness and planning). This includes above all
- serving as the central planning office vis-à-vis the states (Länder),
- drafting and updating civil protection plans, protection and preparedness strategies,
- carrying out the new equipment strategy developed jointly with the states for supplementary disaster protection, and
- intensifying civil–military and civil–police cooperation.
Planning and preparing federal–state cooperation in case of special threat situations. This includes above all
- administrative support for the interministerial, federal–state Coordination Centre for Large-Scale Emergencies and Hazards,
- information and coordination functions by running and refining the German Joint Information and Situation Centre (GMLZ) and German emergency preparedness information system deNIS, and
- coordination and management of NOAH, the office charged with looking after German victims of disasters or terrorist attacks abroad and their relatives after returning to Germany.
Critical infrastructure
- participation in the national critical infrastructure protection strategy and support for the Federal Ministry of the Interior’s coordinating function within the framework of interministerial cooperation and vis-à-vis the states.
Basic and advanced training for decision-makers and managers in all areas of civil security preparedness including civil protection and disaster assistance
- Academy for Crisis Management, Emergency Planning and Civil Protection
Civil health protection
- developing and optimizing interstate and interministerial framework strategies for threat prevention as well as medical and pandemic management in the field of civil protection.
Public warnings and information, in particular
- expanding the integrated warning system with the core element of satellite-based warnings via radio,
- developing strategies to ensure comprehensive coverage including risk and crisis communication.
Strengthening civil self-help, in particular
- promoting public participation in first-aid training, and
- supporting communities in their self-help tasks.
Research and develop, in particular
- establishing the BBK as a national centre for management of non-police security research,
- initiating and providing expert assistance for research and development projects on all aspects of crisis management, and
- expanding scientific, praxis-oriented research in cooperation with the Commission on the Protection of the Civilian Population in case of Major Disasters and in Time of War at the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
Participation in international collaboration in the field of civil protection
s established in May 2004 in response to the changed security situation. Together with the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), the BBK as superior federal authority performs tasks of civil security preparedness within the remit of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, especially in the fields of civil protection and disaster assistance. It provides support in these fields for the Federal Ministry and, with their consent, the responsible supreme federal authorities. In particular, the BBK is responsible for the following:
Planning and preparing civil protection measures as part of overall state security preparedness (emergency preparedness and planning). This includes above all
- serving as the central planning office vis-à-vis the states (Länder),
- drafting and updating civil protection plans, protection and preparedness strategies,
- carrying out the new equipment strategy developed jointly with the states for supplementary disaster protection, and
- intensifying civil–military and civil–police cooperation.
Planning and preparing federal–state cooperation in case of special threat situations. This includes above all
- administrative support for the interministerial, federal–state Coordination Centre for Large-Scale Emergencies and Hazards,
- information and coordination functions by running and refining the German Joint Information and Situation Centre (GMLZ) and German emergency preparedness information system deNIS, and
- coordination and management of NOAH, the office charged with looking after German victims of disasters or terrorist attacks abroad and their relatives after returning to Germany.
Critical infrastructure
- participation in the national critical infrastructure protection strategy and support for the Federal Ministry of the Interior’s coordinating function within the framework of interministerial cooperation and vis-à-vis the states.
Basic and advanced training for decision-makers and managers in all areas of civil security preparedness including civil protection and disaster assistance
- Academy for Crisis Management, Emergency Planning and Civil Protection
Civil health protection
- developing and optimizing interstate and interministerial framework strategies for threat prevention as well as medical and pandemic management in the field of civil protection.
Public warnings and information, in particular
- expanding the integrated warning system with the core element of satellite-based warnings via radio,
- developing strategies to ensure comprehensive coverage including risk and crisis communication.
Strengthening civil self-help, in particular
- promoting public participation in first-aid training, and
- supporting communities in their self-help tasks.
Research and develop, in particular
- establishing the BBK as a national centre for management of non-police security research,
- initiating and providing expert assistance for research and development projects on all aspects of crisis management, and
- expanding scientific, praxis-oriented research in cooperation with the Commission on the Protection of the Civilian Population in case of Major Disasters and in Time of War at the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
Participation in international collaboration in the field of civil protection
