With hurricane-strength wind gusts, the storm Urd caused flooding and damage in several regions of the country during the Christmas period. The damages were especially big in Jyllinge Nordmark near Roskilde, where, on 27 December 2016, Princess Marie visited the more than a hundred emergency response personnel from the local firefighting service and the Danish Emergency Management Agency. They had worked to dam up the floods for several hours.
“I must say that it is impressive with so many fantastic people who just turn up and help. That is the Denmark I am proud of,” said the Princess during the visit. The Princess's commitment is unpaid.
It is particularly the individual citizen’s involvement in disaster situations that is the focal point of Princess Marie’s work for the Danish Emergency Management Agency as a special project staff member. In June 2016, The Princess took on the task of helping to develop a new effort in which the goal is to strengthen the local networks and the individual citizen so that they are capable of handling and preventing disasters.
During the past six years, the Princess has gained a deeper knowledge of the Danish Emergency Management Agency’s handling of duties through her work at the agency and through meetings with partners. In 2011, Princess Marie went through emergency preparedness training in operational tasks and, on this occasion, was appointed Honorary First Lieutenant.
“My affiliation with the Danish Emergency Management Agency has taught me that each individual citizen plays an important role and can contribute to minimising the damages and possible catastrophes. Good communication and good cooperation between the various actors and the citizens are therefore very crucial,” says the Princess.
The attachment as a special project staff member has the status of voluntary service and takes place in parallel with the Princess’s other duties, collaborations and patronages as a member of the royal family.