Current Issues in Population Protection, the Significance of Self-protection Capabilities in the Protection against Disasters

Abstract

One of the achievements of domestic emergency planning is that Hungary's disaster risk can be determined by geographic areas. The identified risks endanger all settlements, so it is of the utmost importance that the disaster management-related self-defense capabilities of the settlements are created, they are up-to-date and designed for the long run. In this paper, the author attempts to analyse the disaster management classification of settlements in Hungary, assess it according to the resulting threat, present the selfdefense capabilities of the settlements, the possibilities, methods, and principles supporting them. The author also seeks to find out the role of voluntary rescue organizations, rescue teams and voluntary firefighter associations in the self-defense capabilities of settlements, their tasks and how they can facilitate and contribute to stabilizing local, district, and regional security.