Coordination in the Security Sector in Response to Natural Disasters: The Serbia Cases of 2014 Floods and Covid-19

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Abstract:

<p style="margin-left:19.85pt;">This article analyses two different natural disasters, the 2014 floods that hit the Republic of Serbia and several neighboring countries and the Covid-19 pandemic. From the view of coordination in the security sector, these two natural disasters represent excellent case studies, given the entirely different conditions in which the entire national security system had to be engaged.</p><p style="margin-left:19.85pt;">This study examines the similarities and differences in response to two different security challenges and the effects of the measures taken. We have in mind that these are security challenges that have a common origin &ndash; nature. Still, they also have numerous differences, primarily concerning the population and the unequal potential to harm the health of the population, property, and economy.</p><p style="margin-left:19.85pt;">With this in mind, we assumed that coordination in the security sector had different models in order to provide the most effective response in addressing the challenges. We concluded that the similarities in these two cases manifested themselves at the normative level. Extraordinary circumstances were declared, and certain regulations changed to provide for the most efficient use of security resources. In both cases, the management of the fight against challenges was centralized. Yet, the difference was manifested in the level of that centralization, which was appropriate to the circumstances and ultimately allowed high efficiency in countering the hazards and their consequences.</p>