(short overview)

Switzerland looks back on a long history of coping with disasters and introduced systematically preventive and preparedness measures as early as the 19th century.

In Switzerland, disaster risk management (often called hazard management) follows the principle of subsidiary. There is a distribution of responsibility between federal, cantonal (state) and municipal authorities, extended to the individual land- and property-owners. It is furthermore founded on the risk concept with the three risk reduction measures: prevention, response, recovery.

In 1997, the National Platform for Natural Hazards (PLANAT) was created by the Swiss Federal Council. PLANAT is responsible for coordinating concepts in the field of prevention against natural hazards, in particular also earthquakes - which were neglected before. The main objective of this extra-parliamentary commission is a paradigm change from pure protection against hazards to the management of risk.

The Swiss insurance sector (primary insurance, building insurance, re-insurance) is very well established. In the light of increasing damage from natural events the insurance sector became active on the prevention side as well.

There are strong Swiss partners in DRR to work abroad: highly relevant are the Federal Office for the Environment, the State Secretariat for Economics, the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports, various universities, SwissRe, or private engineering companies.

Read more on www.planat.ch