The Association of German Municipalities (Deutscher Städtetag) is demanding that the federal government allocate more substantial funding to improve civil protection measures. According to Christian Schuchardt, Managing Director of the “Rheinische Post” handing over civil alarm planning, or the process of identifying and preparing safe shelters, to local municipalities cannot be achieved without adequate financial support.
While Schuchardt acknowledges the federal government’s plan to create a digital map of potential shelters-such as basements, underground parking garages, or bunkers-he pointed out that these sites would first need to be identified and equipped for this purpose. Furthermore, he noted that municipal authorities are increasingly expected to assume numerous operational roles during a crisis, requiring additional resources to meet these mounting responsibilities.
Schuchardt also advocated for a structural change in cooperation between government levels, emphasizing that virtually any conceivable crisis situation will necessitate operational action at the local level. Therefore, he urged that both the federal government and the states immediately incorporate the municipal level on an equal footing within the Federal-State Working Group for Civil-Military Cooperation.
Finally, the spokesman argued that the federal government must improve its communication with the public. He stressed the need for a much stronger communication strategy to inform all citizens about what steps they must take in an emergency, reminding the public that every individual must be self-sufficient in their preparation for such events.