The Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Preparedness (DSB) is headquartered in Skien. DSB is a government agency under the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness, and its main task is to contribute to civil protection and emergency preparedness in Norway. This includes the prevention of accidents and crises, as well as the handling of emergency situations.
The agency works in a number of areas, including fire and explosion protection, civil protection, and risk and vulnerability analyses. DSB also provides advice and guidance to municipalities, businesses and citizens to strengthen the general preparedness in society. Through its activities, the directorate contributes to ensuring a safer everyday life for the population.