THE ENGAGEMENT OF KOROŠKA REGION’S CITIZENS IN THE FORMULATION OF A MUNICIPALITY-LEVEL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN

Abstract

According to the law, municipalities are obligated to formulate, regulate, organize, and manage rescue and assistance activities within their jurisdiction. A crucial aspect entails developing emergency management which provide a structured framework for implementing measures in the event of disasters. However, unforeseen circumstances often arise during disasters, necessitating a certain degree of improvisation. This article scrutinizes the involvement of citizens from selected Koroška regions in the formulation of emergency plans at the municipal level. This comprehensive examination offers a profound understanding of their attitudes and viewpoints with regard to the plans. While citizens’ engagement in emergency management planning is somewhat limited, their contribution assumes greater significance in emergency response tasks. For a more efficacious implementation of the emergency response activities, it is imperative to enhance the inclusion of active participants involved in these responsibilities, encompassing those who take part in emergency response, along with the municipal administration. This approach would facilitate the establishment of a cohesive understanding of emergency response initiatives, thereby enabling a more effective response to crisis situations and, notably, diminishing the necessity for ad hoc improvisation when confronted with disaster events.