Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (ACPDR)

Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (hereinafter referred to as ACPDR) is a constituent body of the Ministry of Defence. It performs administrative and professional protection, rescue and relief tasks as well as other tasks regarding protection against natural and other disasters. ACPDR is divided into six internal organizational units (four sectors and two services) based in Ljubljana as well as 13 other ACPDR branches operating throughout Slovenia. Within each branch there is a regional notification centre that performs a 24-hour duty service. Altogether, 300 people are employed at ACPDR branches and notification centres. The following text briefly presents the main characteristics of the disaster management system in Slovenia with the aim to facilitate an understanding of the ACPDR’s operations.

Disaster management system is one of the three pillars of the RS national-security system that also encompasses protection, rescue and relief activities. The aim of the system is to reduce the number of disasters and to forestall or reduce the number of casualties and other consequences of such disasters. Due to the geographical characteristics of Slovenia, natural disasters, especially floods, summer storms, fires and earthquakes, are common phenomena. The danger of environmental disasters is increasing due to urbanization and industrialization; however contemporary threats of terrorism and the occurrence of various contagious diseases also contribute a significant part. The annual tax that Slovenia pays due to natural and other disasters on average amounts to more than 2 % GDP.