Crisis Management

We work on water safety in North Holland on a daily basis. But despite all the precautionary measures and the high safety standards we apply, unfortunately calamities can never be completely ruled out.

Crisis Management Organization

To act adequately in emergency situations, such as extreme flooding due to heavy and persistent rainfall, heavy pollution of surface water due to an accident or a dike breach during a storm, we have a crisis management organization. Extra manpower, machinery and equipment are on standby when the situation calls for it.

Prepared for calamities

Our employees are prepared for natural disasters, accidents and other emergencies and are there for you when needed. With instructional meetings, education, training and exercises, we keep our people's knowledge and experience up to date. In doing so, we work closely with other agencies and governments.

Types of calamities

We manage flood defenses and take care of water quantity, water quality and (navigable) roads. In carrying out these tasks, calamities may arise. See the Types of Calamities page.

How do I report emergencies?

You can report emergencies to us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 0800-1430. If necessary, we call in the crisis management organization.

Program Crisis Management In The Genes (CING).

The climate is changing, extreme weather situations are becoming more intense and more frequent. Our systems are insufficiently prepared for this, which means that (threatening) nuisance situations will occur more often. Sometimes resulting in major impact and social disruption. Even then we will have to continue to perform our core tasks as well as possible in order to minimize the social nuisance and disruption. Often in collaboration with fellow crisis partners such as the Safety Regions.

The CING program focuses on strengthening our crisis management organization so that during (threatening) crisis situations we have an adequate information position and an equipped crisis organization that is able to act quickly and effectively. The administrative assignment was given in January 2022.

The immediate cause was the June 2021 flooding and the recommendations made in the evaluation of its control.

Technically, those recommendations are about:

• strengthening the crisis resilience of the water system;
• improving 24/7 information when it comes to impact forecasting of extreme weather;
• strategy formation to effectively mitigate the negative impact of extremes during crises and properly communicate the approach to residents.

CING works from the outside in, meaning that we start in the area and pick up the above points from the knowledge and experiences there, using the conceptual and water system knowledge in the office. 

The central product we are working toward both technically and organizationally are the newly developed emergency response plans.

The CING program is implemented by HHNK in cooperation with knowledge centers and various market players.