UCP Knowledge NetworkApplied knowledge for action

Disaster Preparedness

Union Civil Protection helps be prepared and respond to disasters

'Preparedness' for disaster is when people, equipment, structures, communities and organisations are ready to respond quickly and effectively when a disaster strikes because of actions that have been taken in advance. With better preparedness, the effects of disasters can be reduced or mitigated.  

The Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network delivers on preparedness through training, exercises, exchanges and other support.  

A training programme for civil protection experts from the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) Member and Participating States ensures that the work of disaster response teams from different countries is complementary and compatible. This allows for better knowledge sharing and is essential when multi-national teams work together to respond to a disaster. 

This is complemented by large-scale exercises that train and test teams and equipment. An expert exchange programme gives additional opportunities for transfer of specialist knowledge. 

UCPM Training Programme

To strengthen cooperation and coordination among its Member and Participating States in the field of civil protection, the UCPM offers a training programme tailored to specific target groups. It supplements the national training offered to experts and intervention teams by their home country or organisation to better prepare them for international deployments under the Mechanism.

Civil protection exercises

Civil protection exercises provide valuable learning opportunities for UCPM teams through highly realistic training exercise scenarios that closely mimics the real-life situations faced by disaster response teams. UCPM full-scale exercises are organised by civil protection authorities of countries and test the whole system’s response to a disaster.

The Exchange of Experts

The Exchange of Experts in civil protection programme allows civil protection experts from UCPM Member or Participating States or additional eligible third countries to be seconded on short-term exchanges on topics like firefighting, search and rescue or crisis communication.