Vestland officials urge enhanced preparedness for potential war and crises

Regional preparedness officials in Vestland, Norway, are calling for increased readiness to handle complex crises, including the potential for war. Haavard Stensvand, the county preparedness manager, and Kristin Cotta Schønberg, the county physician, emphasize that while the region is experienced in managing natural disasters like floods and landslides, the current security situation in Europe necessitates preparation for geopolitical conflicts.

The initiative, linked to the Total Defense Year 2026, aims to strengthen the ability to prevent and manage security-related crises. A key focus is the resilience of municipalities, which are responsible for essential services such as electricity, mobile coverage, healthcare, and food supply.

Challenges identified include the need for hospitals to potentially free up 7,000 beds for war casualties and the necessity for municipalities to manage more complex patient needs. Officials also noted that many local doctors are insufficiently involved in preparedness planning and that some municipalities lack adequate solutions for replacing chief medical officers during prolonged crises.