Local authorities

Local authorities in the federal system: responsibility on the ground

Federalism is both a strength and a challenge. Civil protection in Germany is mainly the responsibility of the federal states. Structures, resources, alerting channels and communication practice therefore differ between the states – and often between local authorities too.

Local authorities work within these state frameworks. At the same time, they bear operational responsibility for many measures that must take effect immediately in an emergency: information, care, supplies, order, accommodation and coordination of local actors.

OPLAN DEU does not address local authorities as a military command document. However, it assumes that local structures remain able to act – because without local implementation, neither civil protection nor supplies nor support for the armed forces can work.

What local authorities must deliver in a crisis or in the event of collective defence

• Warn and inform the public: clearly, repeatedly, even without the internet
• Organise emergency meeting points and points of contact: local orientation instead of rumours
• Coordinate accommodation and care: vulnerable groups, evacuation, emergency shelters
• Secure supplies: water, hygiene, heating, basic needs – in cooperation with local operators
• Prioritise critical facilities: hospitals, care homes, control centres, water, energy, transport hubs
• Manage interfaces: fire service, ambulance service, police, relief organisations, THW, operators, neighbouring local authorities
• Maintain the situation picture and reporting channels: who reports what, to whom, how often

Preparation means routines, not just plans

In an emergency, what counts is less the paperwork and more practised routine. Local resilience comes from:

• clear responsibilities and deputising rules
• emergency operation for core administrative processes
• redundant communication channels (sirens, radio, notices, loudspeakers)
• regular exercises and realistic scenarios (power cut, IT outage, disinformation)
• cooperation with neighbouring authorities and state agencies before things get tight

What does this mean in concrete terms?

Local authorities need to start now to…

• review their crisis response capability and prioritise core processes
• map critical infrastructure, understand dependencies, identify bottlenecks
• build emergency communication: channels, messages, contact points
• involve local partners: critical infrastructure operators, businesses, volunteers, associations
• carry out exercises, follow up on lessons learned, clarify responsibilities

In an emergency, local resilience determines protection, supplies and stability. Not at some point. On the ground. And ideally now.

Preparedness and emergency supply laws

Energy: Energy Security Act (EnSiG)
Energy is needed for crisis communication, emergency shelters, water and wastewater operations and local supplies. The EnSiG is one building block that allows the state to set priorities in a shortage so that core local functions do not fail completely.

Water: Water Supply Security Act (WasSiG)
Local authorities bear operational responsibility on the ground: information, emergency supply, hygiene, distribution points and protection of vulnerable groups all come together locally. The WasSiG is relevant because it strengthens the legal basis for managing water shortages in an orderly way rather than reacting ad hoc.

Food: Food Security and Preparedness Act (ESVG)
In supply crises, local authorities in practice become the place where measures are implemented: information, local coordination and, in extreme cases, support with distribution and care all come together on the ground. The ESVG is relevant because it creates the legal basis for organising responsibilities and measures in a legally sound way, so that supply crises do not have to be improvised.

Postal Act (PostG) and Telecommunications Act (TKG)

• PostG: Local crisis work still needs physical delivery routes for information, documents and relief logistics, especially when digital channels are disrupted. The PostG provides the sectoral framework for these services.
• TKG: Warnings, public information, control centre work and coordination are handled via telecommunications. The TKG is relevant because it creates the legal framework for the networks over which local crisis communication runs.

Transport and logistics: Transport Security Act (VerkSiG)
Local traffic management, diversions, access roads, alternative routes and the accessibility of local facilities determine how any crisis is handled in practice. The VerkSiG is relevant because it strengthens the overarching legal framework within which local measures are embedded in a nationwide transport logic.