{"id":20600,"date":"2026-10-28T11:22:18","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T08:22:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teaduspark.ee\/if-the-power-goes-out-who-helps-the-people-of-tartu-crisis-preparedness-begins-before-the-outage\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T15:23:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T12:23:00","slug":"if-the-power-goes-out-who-helps-the-people-of-tartu-crisis-preparedness-begins-before-the-outage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teaduspark.ee\/en\/if-the-power-goes-out-who-helps-the-people-of-tartu-crisis-preparedness-begins-before-the-outage\/","title":{"rendered":"If the power goes out, who helps the people of Tartu? Crisis preparedness begins before the outage"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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If the electricity goes out for several days and mobile communication is cut off, everyday questions quickly become vital: where can you get water and warmth, will shops stay open, and whom should you turn to for help? At the discussion \u201cWhen a crisis comes, who is responsible?\u201d held in Tartu on 6 October, participants sought answers to how to ensure vital services keep running and what role local governments, companies, and people themselves play in preparing for a crisis.<\/span><\/p>

A natural crisis, such as a storm or flood, can strike unexpectedly, while a military threat may offer early warnings that allow time to prepare. In both cases, people\u2019s ability to cope depends on whether vital services function, help reaches those in need, and people know how to act even when the usual communication channels no longer work.<\/span><\/p>

The local government organises help, companies ensure services<\/span><\/b><\/p>

Sparkup Tartu Science Park organized the discussion at the Delta business building as part of the BeScaled project. The panel included Raimond Tamm, Deputy Chairman of the Tartu City Council; Siim Kangur, Development Adviser at the Estonian Defence and Aerospace Industry Association; and Risto P\u00e4rn, CEO and co-founder of Hetk Systems, which develops unmanned ground vehicles.<\/span><\/p>

The participants addressed crisis preparedness from the perspective of their own work. According to Tamm, in a crisis, people often turn to the city first. Local government must organize crisis management and ensure vital services function within its area of responsibility. If a service provider can no longer cope, the city must seek solutions and organize the necessary help and information for people.<\/span><\/p>

In Tartu, the Variku and A. Le Coq sports halls, among others, can be used as crisis information centers, where people can get warmth, water, and information if necessary. Mayor Urmas Klaas has previously said that most of the city\u2019s vital institutions can hold out for at least 72 hours with the help of generators.<\/span><\/p>

Kangur emphasized the importance of cooperation between the defense industry and civilian companies. The defence industry does not mean only the production of weapons and military equipment: companies in this field also include providers of communication and telecommunications services. During a crisis, their solutions are needed by rescuers, police, and local governments as well as residents.<\/span><\/p>

Local companies’ capabilities also affect society’s continuity. If the necessary products and services are available domestically, dependence on what happens across the border decreases. Companies’ role therefore extends beyond developing new technologies to supporting vital services and supply chains.<\/span><\/p>

P\u00e4rn\u2019s company, Hetk Systems, develops unmanned ground vehicles that can move into dangerous places and help evacuate the injured from there. These solutions are needed when sending a person to the scene would endanger their life or health.<\/span><\/p>

A power outage can also cut off communications and services<\/span><\/b><\/p>

During the discussion, the question arose of how to cope when a crisis interrupts several usual services at once. Without electricity, shops and petrol stations may shut down, and communications may be cut off. Therefore, it is not enough for the country to have the necessary reserves; they must also reach the people who need them.<\/span><\/p>

Since October 2024, the food supply has been a vital service. This means large food retail companies must prepare for crises the same way electricity and water companies do.<\/span><\/p>

Fuel availability is also important. The state has fuel reserves for more than three months, and the Estonian Stockpiling Agency\u2019s map shows petrol stations that are ready to operate even during a power outage. In a crisis, however, service delivery depends on whether fuel reaches, for example, generators and rescue services in time.<\/span><\/p>

In mobile communication, one of the main risks is the limited duration of backup power. According to an estimate voiced during the discussion, mobile masts can operate on backup power for about four hours after a power outage. After that, communication may be cut off if the power supply is not restored or other solutions fail.<\/span><\/p>

Since 1 October 2026, customers can also use another mobile operator\u2019s network during a major crisis if their own operator\u2019s network is damaged. This can help if one network fails, but it does not solve a long-term power outage.<\/span><\/p>

Therefore, it is important to plan how to get information when the smartphone and internet no longer work. Keep a battery-powered radio at home, and know the location of the nearest crisis information center. It is also worth keeping a food and water supply at home for several days to cope independently during the first days of a crisis.<\/span><\/p>

Sheltering preparedness begins at home<\/span><\/b><\/p>

Preparing for a crisis also means having a place to shelter. Public shelters can be found on the Rescue Board\u2019s map, and there are also some in Tartu. For many people, the first sheltering option may be the basement of their own home. Therefore, apartment associations should plan how to use the basement if needed and keep it organized and accessible.<\/span><\/p>

Shelter preparedness also concerns the design of new buildings. According to the Ministry of the Interior\u2019s plan, starting in July 2026, new public buildings with an area of at least 10,000 m\u00b2 must include a shelter. From summer 2028, the requirement should extend to new residential and office buildings of at least 1,200 m\u00b2 and industrial and warehouse buildings of at least 1,500 m\u00b2.<\/span><\/p>

According to the plan, each person must have 0.75 m\u00b2 of shelter space. According to developers, this requirement increases construction costs, while the ministry says the additional cost may remain within 2\u20133% if the shelter is planned from the outset as part of the building\u2019s everyday use, for example, as a car park or storage room.<\/span><\/p>

Responsibility is shared, cooperation must work<\/span><\/b><\/p>

In a crisis, no single institution is responsible for everything. Each party acts within its own role and capabilities: rescuers and police respond to incidents, the Rescue Board coordinates civil protection, and local governments manage crises within their areas of responsibility.<\/span><\/p>

Regional crisis committees bring state institutions and local governments to a common table in order to form as unified an overview of the situation as possible. If necessary, the Defence Forces and the Defence League can support civilian institutions, and local companies and communities can also contribute.<\/span><\/p>

The question is therefore not only whose task a particular activity is, but also whether the parties know each other\u2019s capabilities and needs. Does the crisis committee know what help local companies can provide? Does a company know whom to turn to if its technology could help rescue operations or the restoration of a vital service?<\/span><\/p>

Defence League members and other local residents can reach those in need quickly because they know their area. Fast, effective action, however, requires cooperation and a clear division of roles planned before the crisis. This can be practiced in situations where there is still time to make decisions.<\/span><\/p>

Technology must reach the user<\/span><\/b><\/p>

One central question in the discussion was how new technological solutions reach the people who need them most in a crisis.<\/span><\/p>

According to P\u00e4rn, a working solution emerges when developers understand the day-to-day work of rescuers and crisis managers. Technology alone does not solve the problem if it cannot be deployed at the right time. Obstacles may include procurement conditions, certification, or limited opportunities to test the product in a real situation.<\/span><\/p>

BeScaled also addresses this question through an Interreg Central Baltic program project that helps Estonian and Finnish start-ups assess the suitability of their technology in the defense, security, and resilience sector. The project gives companies the opportunity to test solutions with users, prepare for procurements, and understand the sector\u2019s regulations.<\/span><\/p>

The project aims to help 40 start-ups gain a foothold in this field by 2028. In Estonia, Sparkup Tartu Science Park leads the project; partners include Tallinn University and, in Finland, HAMK, XAMK, and Linnan Kehitys.<\/span><\/p>

Preparedness is revealed in action<\/span><\/b><\/p>

At the end of the discussion, the moderator asked the participants to name one step that listeners could take after the meeting. The idea that stood out from the answers was that crisis preparedness is not only about describing plans and responsibilities, but also about practical preparation.<\/span><\/p>

For an individual, this may mean reviewing the home food and water supply and finding the nearest crisis information center and shelter. For institutions, local governments and companies, it means cooperation, agreements and joint exercises.<\/span><\/p>

When the electricity goes out and communications are cut off, the true level of preparedness shows in whether people receive the help, information, and essential services they need. For this, cooperation must begin before the crisis.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

BeScaled is a pre-accelerator for Estonian and Finnish startups with an existing product or technology and an interest in entering defence, security, or resilience markets.<\/em><\/p>

The programme connects your company with an international team experienced in dual-use validation, startup incubation, and extensive industry networks. The result: a clear picture of whether and how your solution fits the defense market \u2014 before you invest significant time and money.<\/em><\/p>

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Look at the references\u00a0<\/p>