Unknown Count of Civil Protection Personnel Remains Undisclosed by Government
In the aftermath of the recent forest fires, calls for reforms in disaster protection have been echoed by Jan Koestering, a member of parliament from the Left party. Koestering highlighted the limitations of voluntary fire departments and the need to overcome the long-standing tug-of-war between the federal government, states, and municipalities in disaster management.
However, a crucial aspect of this discussion remains shrouded in uncertainty: the number of emergency response personnel who hold dual roles in both civil protection organisations and federal territorial or alliance defense.
While it is established that organisations such as THW, DRK, Johanniter, Malteser, DLRG, and ASB collaborate with governmental agencies in disaster management, the precise statistics regarding the overlap or dual roles of these personnel are not publicly available.
The available information suggests that these organisations may have volunteers who are also reservists or involved in Bundeswehr activities. However, no formal records or statistics on such overlaps are cited.
Public emergency services, including those of these organisations, operate under a federally coordinated communication system and are integrated operationally in disaster response. Yet, this logistical integration does not equate to federal employment status in defense roles.
In response to a query from the German Press Agency, the Ministry of the Interior did not provide a specific number of deployable helpers from the aid organisations who are also employed in federal structures. This lack of oversight could potentially impact Germany's readiness for emergencies.
The question of dual memberships and their potential impact on the availability of emergency responders in the event of a catastrophic disaster remains unclear. It is uncertain whether such dual memberships would lead to a real restriction of availability in the event of a disaster of unforeseeable magnitude.
The federal government is responsible for civil defense, protecting the population and vital infrastructure in a state of tension or defense. However, comprehensive defense, including protection of the population and vital infrastructure, is an important topic that requires careful consideration and transparency.
The lack of knowledge about the number of deployable helpers who are also employed in federal structures could pose a challenge in ensuring the population's supply with clean drinking water, emergency power, or temporary shelters in case of an emergency.
It is worth noting that members of the military and police are among the volunteers in recognised aid organisations. However, their availability for civil defense tasks is unclear.
In light of these uncertainties, it is evident that further investigation and transparency are necessary to ensure the country's readiness for emergencies and to address concerns raised by politicians like Jan Koestering.
The radio discussions surrounding the policy-and-legislation of disaster management in politics have been focusing on the overlooked issue of emergency response personnel who hold dual roles in civil protection organizations and federal territorial or alliance defense. This ambiguity could potentially impact the general-news of Germany's readiness for emergencies, as it is uncertain whether such dual memberships would lead to a real restriction of availability in the event of a catastrophic disaster.
