Austrian Red Cross calls for 250 million euros for crisis preparedness

The Austrian Red Cross (ÖRK) is calling for an annual investment of 250 million euros to bolster civilian crisis preparedness. General Secretary Michael Opriesnig emphasized that funding should not be limited to military spending, noting that military strength alone is insufficient if society lacks resilience.

The requested funds are intended for the protection of critical infrastructure, including energy, water, food supplies, healthcare systems, transport routes, and digital networks. Additionally, the investment would support modern warning systems and well-trained emergency personnel.

President Gerald Schöpfer advised citizens to prepare for disasters such as extreme weather or blackouts by using provided checklists and mobile applications. He noted that over one million Austrians support the organization through donations and blood drives. Opriesnig compared the scale of the request to Germany’s planned 10 billion euro investment in civilian defense through 2029, adjusted for Austria’s smaller population.