Nõmme starts from a different position when preparing for crises than, for example, Haabersti or Mustamäe. Although the district also has apartment buildings, it is characterised by extensive areas of detached and private houses and a garden-city-style spatial structure. According to Tallinn’s data, Nõmme has considerably more single-family homes than apartment buildings. This means that crisis preparedness must also take into account people who are more dispersed across the area, different types of buildings, local roads and the needs of a wide variety of households.

“While Nõmme does have larger apartment buildings, it is predominantly an area of detached houses, which creates its own challenges for crisis preparedness. In a large apartment building, it may be possible to reach dozens of people through a single stairwell, whereas in areas of detached houses, people and resources are more dispersed. It is precisely in such situations that local people who know their street and neighbourhood become valuable: they can help identify needs, relay information and support the municipality’s activities,” said Anne-May Nagel, co-founder and researcher at the Crisis Research Centre.

During the training day, the Nõmme District Government introduced the principles of crisis preparedness at city and district level, as well as its expectations for the development of the local crisis network. The Crisis Research Centre addressed the role of communities in civil protection and covered the basic knowledge required in this area, while paramedic Andrus Lehtmets focused on practical first aid. These three perspectives – local government arrangements, the capacity of communities to act, and practical skills at individual level – also form a key part of the KRAKO training programme.