Beredskabet

Beredskabet refers to the Danish system of emergency preparedness and response. It encompasses the means and organizations used to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from crises and disasters. The system operates across levels of government and society, coordinating resources and information among national authorities, municipalities, law enforcement, health services, and civil protection volunteers.

At the core is a national agency known as Beredskabsstyrelsen, which leads cross‑sector planning, training and crisis response. Local governments hold primary responsibility for local preparedness and response, with central authorities providing guidance, coordination, and support during larger events. The arrangement covers a broad range of hazards, including fires, floods, severe weather, major accidents, disease outbreaks, and disrupting incidents.

Beredskabet operates through prepared plans, early warning systems, drills and exercises, emergency communications, logistics and shelter arrangements, and recovery initiatives to help communities restore normal function after an incident. It emphasizes resilience, public information, and cooperation across civilian, police, health, and military domains.

Historically, the Danish approach to civil protection and crisis management has evolved from mid 20th-century civil defense toward an all-hazards, multi-agency framework. Denmark participates in international cooperation for crisis response, including EU Civil Protection Mechanism and cross-border assistance with neighboring countries.