Background information

In Austria, the responsibility for 'promoting the repair of damage caused by natural disasters to the assets of physical and legal persons' falls under the jurisdiction of the (nine) federal states. However, with the Disaster Fund Act first implemented in 1966 (and amended in 1996 to its current version), state funds for the prevention through torrent and avalanche control and assistance to the provinces enabling them to make support payments to victims have been provided.

Content of measure

The disaster fund was set up in order to provide financing for measures to prevent future disaster damage and to repair disaster damage that has occurred - in addition to funds by the respective regional states. The fund furthermore also co-finances emergency equipment for fire departments as well as the warning and alarm system and supports crop insurance premiums.

The fund is financed through shares of income tax (assessed income tax, payroll tax, capital gains taxes) and corporate income tax.

Private individuals whose assets have been damaged by natural disasters can apply for support from the disaster fund directly at their respective municipality. The amount of aid is determined in the respective guidelines of the regional state. (In addition, further damages are covered by the fund, e.g. damage to the federal states, to the municipalities, hail insurance).

Most recently, the fund has provided finances during the floods in the southern states of Carinthia and Styria in early August 2023, co-financed by the respective regional funds.

There is also a specific disaster fund run by the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) to which members who have faced a natural disaster may apply.

Use of measure

In the bi-annual report reporting on 2020 and 2021, deposits of €415 million and €509 million were made. Of this, 75.7% of the funds were dedicated to prevention; 13.8% to damages (incl. private persons); and 10.5% to fire brigades. The latest bi-annual report of 2022 and 2023 shows deposits tof €617.5 million in 2022 and €624.3 million in 2023. Funding paid out amounted to €422 million in 2022 and €438.9 million in 2023. In 2023, almost 70% was invested in prevention measures, 13.6% of the funds were spent on repairing damage and 17.1% on firefighting equipment.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Applies to all businesses	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Local / regional government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

Involvement in the state Act/state fund unknown. Involvement in ÖGB's own disaster fund was unilateral.

Views and reactions

Views are unknown.

Sources

• 27 November 2023: Disaster Fund (www.bmf.gv.at)
• 03 April 2024: Parliamentary Correspondence No. 319 of 03.04.2024 Disaster Fund: Almost 70% invested in preventive measures in 2023 (www.parlament.gv.at)