Civil protection or civil defense acts at all stages of comprehensive risk management:

• - In prevention "Prevention (extreme natural phenomena)"), in the long term, medium term and short term.

• - It is responsible for declaring the alert, the emergency "Emergency (disaster)").

• - Coordinates actions that are intended to mitigate emergency situations.

• - Participate in reconstruction programs, once the emergency situation has passed.

All those people who are willing to collaborate in the activities of the Civil Protection or Civil Defense services can form part of a Civil Protection or Civil Defense group or association.

The relationship that volunteers have with the municipality is understood to be free and disinterested, even so the volunteer has the right to be insured against possible risks.

Minors, with the consent of their legal guardians, may participate in civil protection training activities, creating a youth section within the group, but they may never participate in preventive or operational activities that are carried out (fires, health interventions...).

They are local organizations formed exclusively by volunteers and supervised by City Council staff, normally Civil Protection technicians. The functions of the volunteer groups are as follows.

Similar to groups (they are also made up of volunteers/obligators on many occasions) they are non-governmental organizations, they do not depend on city councils and usually have collaboration agreements with municipal, provincial or regional administrations to perform the same functions as the Groups.

The National Emergency Radio Network (REMER) is a state-wide network, alternative and complementary to other communications networks used by the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergencies of the Ministry of the Interior. It is made up of accredited Spanish and foreign radio amateurs residing in Spain, who use their own radio communications means to carry out the missions entrusted by said General Directorate, to which they are linked voluntarily and altruistically as permanent collaborators, and whose rules and instructions they abide by. With this, REMER maintains a permanent and hierarchical structure, with coverage throughout the national territory, which allows it to guarantee the necessary speed and effectiveness in its action in those cases in which it is required.

REMER was created in 1986[2]​ (although the voluntary registration of radio amateurs had already been done previously) but the changes produced since then, as well as the experience accumulated in its years of operation, advised its adaptation and transformation in 2018[3]​ in order to improve its effectiveness and placement in the National Civil Protection System.

Civil Protection or Civil Defense Technicians

They are located in municipal, regional and state services depending on the administrative scope of competence, the municipal scope is reflected by the Law of Local Regime Bases (LRBL) in its article 25.c in which it gives the powers to the town councils in matters of Civil Protection of more than 20,000 inhabitants as an apostille of art.29. And to the Provincial Councils and Island Councils in those with less than 20,000 inhabitants. This, together with the fact that the municipalities, by Basic Self-Protection Standard 393/2007, says that the municipalities must approve the self-protection plans and inspect the degree of implementation of the existing ones and that this also means that with more than 20,000 inhabitants they must have a territorial emergency plan. In addition to coordinating emergency plans when they are activated, Civil Protection technicians perform numerous technical functions, being considered authorities in the exercise of their functions.

Not to be confused with head of volunteer groups or Civil Protection volunteer groups, this is a non-professional, voluntary and altruistic activity that has nothing to do with the figure of the technician or with a Civil Protection service.

Disaster Support Units (UAD)

The Disaster Support Units (UAD) were groups of professionals adequately organized and equipped to carry out, voluntarily and altruistically, certain protection activities for people affected by disasters, both in Spanish territory and outside of it.

The Disaster Support Units (UAD) constituted a strategic line of Spanish policy on civil protection, but they were not an isolated initiative but also responded to projects underway in the international context, both at the level of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA, and the European Union (European Mechanism for Coordination of Civil Protection in Emergencies).[4]​.

They were suppressed by Royal Decree 701/2013, of September 20, on the rationalization of the public sector (art. 2), since they ceased to make sense "due to the creation of the Military Emergency Unit, as well as the development of the intervention modules of the European Union in the face of international disasters and those approved by the United Nations for search and rescue in urban areas" due to the existence of partial duplication between the functions of these Units and the Military Unit of Emergencies (UME) as a substantial means of state support according to the report of the Commission for the Reform of Public Administrations (CORA).

Argentina

• - General Directorate of Civil Defense.

European Union

European Commission.

• - General Directorate of Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid.

• - Civil Protection & Environmental Emergencies.

• - EU action on civil protection.

Mexico

The General Law of Civil Protection published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on May 12, 2000, defines Civil Protection as: “Set of provisions, measures and actions aimed at the prevention, assistance and recovery of the population in the event of a disaster.”

Due to the damage caused by the earthquake of September 19, 1985, various initiatives arose in Mexico to create a specialized organization that would study the technical aspects of disaster prevention; The federal government decided to establish the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) in Mexico, providing it with an institution that would provide technical support to the different operational structures that comprise it.

For its creation, there was financial and technical support from the Government of Japan, who contributed to the construction and equipment of the facilities; Likewise, it provided training to national specialists, in order to improve knowledge and organization regarding seismic disasters.

Simultaneously, the National Autonomous University of Mexico provided the land on which said institution would be built, provided specialized academic and technical personnel, and decisively promoted studies related to disaster reduction in the country.

As a result of these three important initiatives, on September 19, 1988, the creation of the National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED) was determined; having the character of a decentralized administrative body and hierarchically subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior, who provides the organizational structure and provides the resources for its operation. CENAPRED was inaugurated on May 11, 1990.

Professionalization in Civil Protection is taking its first steps with the creation of the National School of Civil Protection (ENAPROC) attached to the National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED). In 2014, ENAPROC launched its first call for the Basic Technician in Comprehensive Risk Management with a duration of six two months.

The rise of the culture of Civil Protection demands more and more professionals and ENAPROC is not the only officially valid institution that trains these professionals, the Latin American College of Advanced Education, based in the city of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, teaches the Bachelor's Degree in Civil Protection, and the Technological University of Aguascalientes, Ciudad Juárez, the University of Izucar de Matamoros and the University of the Toluca Valley have launched the Bachelor's Degree in Civil Protection and Emergencies or Emergencies Medical, as well as the University of Guadalajara the Bachelor's Degree in Occupational Safety, Civil Protection and Emergencies.

ENAPROC and the Technological University of Aguascalientes worked together in 2014 to bring the three levels of the Civil Protection Instructor Training Program (FORIN-PC) to their graduated students and teaching staff.

Venezuela

Legal framework:.

• - Constitution of the country of Venezuela.

• - Official Gazette 5,453 Date: March 24, 2000.

• - In paragraph number 4 of article number: 332 of the Constitution.

• - Civil Protection of Venezuela.

• - Official Gazette Number: 5557. Date: November 13, 2001.

Germany

• - Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) Archived August 6, 2020 at the Wayback Machine.

Austria

• - Oberösterreichischer Zivilschutzverband.

Brazil

• - Civil Defense of São Paulo, Brazil Archived September 2, 2006 at the Wayback Machine.

• - For the nascent Civil Protection of Brazil see SAMU 192 do Brazil.

Chili

• - Civil Defense of Chile [1].

• - National Emergency Office [2].

• - NGO National Emergency Network [3].

For the nascent Civil Health Protection see the SAMU of Chile and the Ministry of Health [4].

Colombia

• - Colombian Civil Defense.

• - Duitama Civil Defense.

Ecuador

• - Risk Management Secretariat.

France

In France Civil Protection is called Sécurité Civile. The nascent Civil Health Protection is based on the network of the French SAMU 15 and the White Hospital Plans.

• - Federation Nationale de Protection Civile, France.

Ireland

• - Civil Defense Ireland.

Italy

• - Dipartimento Della Protezione Civile, Italy.

Luxembourg

• - Ministère de l'intérieure.

• - First Mexican digital newspaper specialized in Civil Protection.

• - Official website of the Mexican College of Rescuers A.C., Mexico. Archived December 2, 2020 at the Wayback Machine.

• - Official website on Civil Protection of the Ministry of the Interior, Mexico.

• - Website on Civil Protection of the National Coordination of Civil Protection, Mexico.

• - Civil Protection - Municipality of Zacatecas, Mexico.

• - Portal of the National Civil Protection Association of Mexico.

• - Official website on Civil Protection of the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico.

• - Official website on Civil Protection of the State of Coahuila, Mexico.

• - Official website on Civil Protection of the State of Chiapas, Mexico.

Panama

• - Panama National Civil Protection System.

Portugal

• - National Civil Protection Authority, Portugal.

For the nascent Civil Health Protection, see the portals of the Ministry of Health, the INEM and the SAMU network called CODU.

El Salvador

• - General Directorate of Civil Protection of El Salvador.

• - Civil Protection and Disaster Administration.

• - Search and rescue.

• - Fire department.

• - Paramedic.

• - Forest ranger.

• - Vehicle rescue.

• - Rescue and rescue vessel.

• - Search and rescue dog.

• - EU-Alert.

• - Cell Broadcast.

• - Wikimedia Commons hosts a multimedia gallery on Civil Protection.

Civil protection or civil defense acts at all stages of comprehensive risk management:

• - In prevention "Prevention (extreme natural phenomena)"), in the long term, medium term and short term.

• - It is responsible for declaring the alert, the emergency "Emergency (disaster)").

• - Coordinates actions that are intended to mitigate emergency situations.

• - Participate in reconstruction programs, once the emergency situation has passed.

All those people who are willing to collaborate in the activities of the Civil Protection or Civil Defense services can form part of a Civil Protection or Civil Defense group or association.

The relationship that volunteers have with the municipality is understood to be free and disinterested, even so the volunteer has the right to be insured against possible risks.

Minors, with the consent of their legal guardians, may participate in civil protection training activities, creating a youth section within the group, but they may never participate in preventive or operational activities that are carried out (fires, health interventions...).

They are local organizations formed exclusively by volunteers and supervised by City Council staff, normally Civil Protection technicians. The functions of the volunteer groups are as follows.

Similar to groups (they are also made up of volunteers/obligators on many occasions) they are non-governmental organizations, they do not depend on city councils and usually have collaboration agreements with municipal, provincial or regional administrations to perform the same functions as the Groups.

The National Emergency Radio Network (REMER) is a state-wide network, alternative and complementary to other communications networks used by the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergencies of the Ministry of the Interior. It is made up of accredited Spanish and foreign radio amateurs residing in Spain, who use their own radio communications means to carry out the missions entrusted by said General Directorate, to which they are linked voluntarily and altruistically as permanent collaborators, and whose rules and instructions they abide by. With this, REMER maintains a permanent and hierarchical structure, with coverage throughout the national territory, which allows it to guarantee the necessary speed and effectiveness in its action in those cases in which it is required.

REMER was created in 1986[2]​ (although the voluntary registration of radio amateurs had already been done previously) but the changes produced since then, as well as the experience accumulated in its years of operation, advised its adaptation and transformation in 2018[3]​ in order to improve its effectiveness and placement in the National Civil Protection System.

Civil Protection or Civil Defense Technicians

They are located in municipal, regional and state services depending on the administrative scope of competence, the municipal scope is reflected by the Law of Local Regime Bases (LRBL) in its article 25.c in which it gives the powers to the town councils in matters of Civil Protection of more than 20,000 inhabitants as an apostille of art.29. And to the Provincial Councils and Island Councils in those with less than 20,000 inhabitants. This, together with the fact that the municipalities, by Basic Self-Protection Standard 393/2007, says that the municipalities must approve the self-protection plans and inspect the degree of implementation of the existing ones and that this also means that with more than 20,000 inhabitants they must have a territorial emergency plan. In addition to coordinating emergency plans when they are activated, Civil Protection technicians perform numerous technical functions, being considered authorities in the exercise of their functions.

Not to be confused with head of volunteer groups or Civil Protection volunteer groups, this is a non-professional, voluntary and altruistic activity that has nothing to do with the figure of the technician or with a Civil Protection service.

Disaster Support Units (UAD)

The Disaster Support Units (UAD) were groups of professionals adequately organized and equipped to carry out, voluntarily and altruistically, certain protection activities for people affected by disasters, both in Spanish territory and outside of it.

The Disaster Support Units (UAD) constituted a strategic line of Spanish policy on civil protection, but they were not an isolated initiative but also responded to projects underway in the international context, both at the level of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA, and the European Union (European Mechanism for Coordination of Civil Protection in Emergencies).[4]​.

They were suppressed by Royal Decree 701/2013, of September 20, on the rationalization of the public sector (art. 2), since they ceased to make sense "due to the creation of the Military Emergency Unit, as well as the development of the intervention modules of the European Union in the face of international disasters and those approved by the United Nations for search and rescue in urban areas" due to the existence of partial duplication between the functions of these Units and the Military Unit of Emergencies (UME) as a substantial means of state support according to the report of the Commission for the Reform of Public Administrations (CORA).

Argentina

• - General Directorate of Civil Defense.

European Union

European Commission.

• - General Directorate of Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid.

• - Civil Protection & Environmental Emergencies.

• - EU action on civil protection.

Mexico

The General Law of Civil Protection published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on May 12, 2000, defines Civil Protection as: “Set of provisions, measures and actions aimed at the prevention, assistance and recovery of the population in the event of a disaster.”

Due to the damage caused by the earthquake of September 19, 1985, various initiatives arose in Mexico to create a specialized organization that would study the technical aspects of disaster prevention; The federal government decided to establish the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) in Mexico, providing it with an institution that would provide technical support to the different operational structures that comprise it.

For its creation, there was financial and technical support from the Government of Japan, who contributed to the construction and equipment of the facilities; Likewise, it provided training to national specialists, in order to improve knowledge and organization regarding seismic disasters.

Simultaneously, the National Autonomous University of Mexico provided the land on which said institution would be built, provided specialized academic and technical personnel, and decisively promoted studies related to disaster reduction in the country.

As a result of these three important initiatives, on September 19, 1988, the creation of the National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED) was determined; having the character of a decentralized administrative body and hierarchically subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior, who provides the organizational structure and provides the resources for its operation. CENAPRED was inaugurated on May 11, 1990.

Professionalization in Civil Protection is taking its first steps with the creation of the National School of Civil Protection (ENAPROC) attached to the National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED). In 2014, ENAPROC launched its first call for the Basic Technician in Comprehensive Risk Management with a duration of six two months.

The rise of the culture of Civil Protection demands more and more professionals and ENAPROC is not the only officially valid institution that trains these professionals, the Latin American College of Advanced Education, based in the city of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, teaches the Bachelor's Degree in Civil Protection, and the Technological University of Aguascalientes, Ciudad Juárez, the University of Izucar de Matamoros and the University of the Toluca Valley have launched the Bachelor's Degree in Civil Protection and Emergencies or Emergencies Medical, as well as the University of Guadalajara the Bachelor's Degree in Occupational Safety, Civil Protection and Emergencies.

ENAPROC and the Technological University of Aguascalientes worked together in 2014 to bring the three levels of the Civil Protection Instructor Training Program (FORIN-PC) to their graduated students and teaching staff.

Venezuela

Legal framework:.

• - Constitution of the country of Venezuela.

• - Official Gazette 5,453 Date: March 24, 2000.

• - In paragraph number 4 of article number: 332 of the Constitution.

• - Civil Protection of Venezuela.

• - Official Gazette Number: 5557. Date: November 13, 2001.

Germany

• - Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) Archived August 6, 2020 at the Wayback Machine.

Austria

• - Oberösterreichischer Zivilschutzverband.

Brazil

• - Civil Defense of São Paulo, Brazil Archived September 2, 2006 at the Wayback Machine.

• - For the nascent Civil Protection of Brazil see SAMU 192 do Brazil.

Chili

• - Civil Defense of Chile [1].

• - National Emergency Office [2].

• - NGO National Emergency Network [3].

For the nascent Civil Health Protection see the SAMU of Chile and the Ministry of Health [4].

Colombia

• - Colombian Civil Defense.

• - Duitama Civil Defense.

Ecuador

• - Risk Management Secretariat.

France

In France Civil Protection is called Sécurité Civile. The nascent Civil Health Protection is based on the network of the French SAMU 15 and the White Hospital Plans.

• - Federation Nationale de Protection Civile, France.

Ireland

• - Civil Defense Ireland.

Italy

• - Dipartimento Della Protezione Civile, Italy.

Luxembourg

• - Ministère de l'intérieure.

• - First Mexican digital newspaper specialized in Civil Protection.

• - Official website of the Mexican College of Rescuers A.C., Mexico. Archived December 2, 2020 at the Wayback Machine.

• - Official website on Civil Protection of the Ministry of the Interior, Mexico.

• - Website on Civil Protection of the National Coordination of Civil Protection, Mexico.

• - Civil Protection - Municipality of Zacatecas, Mexico.

• - Portal of the National Civil Protection Association of Mexico.

• - Official website on Civil Protection of the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico.

• - Official website on Civil Protection of the State of Coahuila, Mexico.

• - Official website on Civil Protection of the State of Chiapas, Mexico.

Panama

• - Panama National Civil Protection System.

Portugal

• - National Civil Protection Authority, Portugal.

For the nascent Civil Health Protection, see the portals of the Ministry of Health, the INEM and the SAMU network called CODU.

El Salvador

• - General Directorate of Civil Protection of El Salvador.

• - Civil Protection and Disaster Administration.

• - Search and rescue.

• - Fire department.

• - Paramedic.

• - Forest ranger.

• - Vehicle rescue.

• - Rescue and rescue vessel.

• - Search and rescue dog.

• - EU-Alert.

• - Cell Broadcast.

• - Wikimedia Commons hosts a multimedia gallery on Civil Protection.