Michael Frisell

My name is Michael Frisell.

I'm a director general for the Swedish Civil Defense and Resilience Agency.

The agency is, if I use the term, the top node in the civil defense.

That means that we have a very, very strong mandate.

We are the government's tool in order to coordinate and strengthen the civil defense and the total defense.

Yeah, you know, our history, our tradition and also the geography matters, of course.

We have not been allied in NATO before.

It has been necessary to take care of ourselves and we have been living close to Russia and we have felt the threat from Russia many, many years back.

And that means that we have a more open relationship

and clear communication with the citizens and all stakeholders in the society.

If we only focus on peacetime crisis, we will never have the capabilities to handle the worst case scenario.

The most important is that you have a preparedness mindset.

That you understand you need to take responsibility.

You have a responsibility.

You need to contribute.

And you need to take care by yourself during the first week during a crisis or war.

And then, of course, you need some type of equipment.

Batteries, radio, candles...

some water at home, some food so you can survive, if I use that word, during one week without support from the government and the state.

You need to contribute to the society's preparedness and all things you do matters in this case.