Evacuation

An evacuation refers to moving people and property to safety from dangerous areas or locations. The evacuation is planned and implemented by an authority decision. In the smallest scale, an evacuation can apply to the residents of one house, for example, and in the largest scale, to the entire population of several municipalities. Voluntary moves by people are not counted as an evacuation, as it requires a request by the authorities.

An accident evacuation may have to be performed during normal conditions, and it will be implemented based on an authority decision due to a fire or some other accident or situation. In such case, a limited number of people are evacuated from their permanent homes or living places. An evacuation usually takes place within one city. A more extensive evacuation is implemented within a restricted area or in locations with a significant disaster risk. Such a location-specific evacuation area is applied during disasters or under a threat of one.

Due to a military force or a threat of it, a large-scale evacuation may have to be performed in Helsinki. In such case, the population of the entire city or people from several city districts will be evacuated. The government will make the decision on this kind of evacuation. The rescue services' management system will be applied to the management of evacuations.

Available languages:

Finnish, Swedish

Related service points and contact information:

• Civil defence shelters
  • Evacuation
  • Renting the bedrock shelters