Local Crisis Management – The Communal Safety Plan: Challenges and Obstacles to Operationality

Abstract: Generally, the management of emergency situations caused by major industrial or natural hazards (such as floods) comprises all actions taken immediately, before, during and directly after these risks occur to save endangered people, protect property and the environment and increase the potential for returning to normality. Grounded in a military logic, these public safety actions are carried out in the framework of a crisis management system that is often organized into three levels: the national level, which can be associated with a strategic analysis scale; the regional/departmental level, which corresponds to the operational scale and finally; the local/communal level, which constitutes the tactical aspect, notably involving the work of various services on the ground. At this final level, the mayor, by virtue of his policing powers, is a key player in local emergency management, in two ways. As the primary elected representative of his commune, he is in charge of police powers. He also represents the State on the communal scale, notably in the event of a crisis. He can, therefore, if the extent of the crisis permits it, direct relief operations in France (articles L.2212-1, L.2212-2, L.2215-1 of the General Local Authorities Code).