Reykjavík City Emergency Management
Reykjavík City Emergency Management has the role of coordinating actions and carrying out emergency measures when an emergency arises in order to prioritize legally required services and socially important activities, ensure public welfare, and minimize potential social damage.
Emergency situation
An emergency can arise when community safety and infrastructure are threatened, such as from natural disasters; when the environment and health are at risk; and when technological hazards or other types of dangerous conditions occur.
During emergency phases, it's necessary to prioritize tasks and protect the core foundations of city services to maintain the most essential operations. The mayor, along with the City Executive Council, leads the city's executive management. The City's specialized departments, offices and companies each carry responsibility for the services they provide.
During the emergency phase of response plans, the City's emergency management is activated. Otherwise, the City's governance structure remains unchanged, and each manager is responsible for their work area or facility according to the regular organizational structure.
Emergency management authorities
Emergency management has the authority to make decisions and incur expenses beyond what's stated in the budget during emergencies, as long as these are matters that cannot be delayed. The City Executive Council provides other necessary authorizations for special financial expenditures and is activated during emergency phases, where it may be necessary to call an extraordinary session.
Reykjavík City Emergency Management operates according to Reykjavík City's response plan.
A group staff member is responsible for calling meetings, preparing meetings, taking minutes, and processing them in consultation with the mayor.
Emergency management
According to the charter from February 2023:
- Mayor – Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir, chair
- Chief Executive Officer – Þorsteinn Gunnarsson
- Director of Environment & Planning – Ólöf Örvarsdóttir
- Director of Welfare – Rannveig Einarsdóttir
- Director of Human Resources & Work Environments – Lóa Birna Birgisdóttir
- Director of Service & Innovation – Óskar J. Sandholt
- Director of Education & Youth – Steinn Jóhannsson
- Director of Culture & Sports – Steinþór Einarsson
- Communications Director – Eva Bergþóra Guðbergsdóttir
Alternates:
- Chair of City Executive Council: Líf Magneudóttir.
- Director – Office of the City Council, 2nd Deputy Mayor – Helga Laxdal
- Head of the Property Office – Óli Jón Hertervig
- Director of Finance & Risk Management – Halldóra Káradóttir
- Managing Director of Reykjavík Public Health - Tómas G. Gíslason
- City Attorney – Ebba Schram
- Head of Human Rights – Anna Kristinsdóttir
Employee:
- Service & Administration Team Leader of the Office of the Mayor and Chief Executive Officer - Dagný Ingadóttir
Main partners:
Work is done with staff of the Metropolitan Public Security Committee, the capital area emergency management, other emergency management teams of municipalities in the capital area, as well as other institutions involved within and outside Reykjavík City.
Employment period:
Reykjavík City Emergency Management operates during the period 2023-2026.