Natural Disasters and Societal Safety

14 KIRSTI STRØM BULL

to be adapted to the increasing challenges from nature. Today, every county and

community has the responsibility to do hazard, vulnerability and risk assessment.

The same “Brennpunkt” TV-programme claimed that many counties do not have the

capacity to do such analyses.

The authorities, specialists and researchers you will hear from today come

from several different, and relevant, organisations working with natural hazards and

risk. They are able to provide the knowledge on how to improve our hazard,

vulnerability and risk assessments.

In closing, I wish to thank the symposium organisation committee: Roy H.

Gabrielsen, John Grue, Suzanne Lacasse and Fridtjof Unander. I look forward to this

symposium on such a timely and interesting theme.