The Safety Authority in the Rotterdam area (Veiligheidsregio Rotterdam-Rijnmond) is a government organisation acting on behalf of municipalities in the fields of disaster management, crisis control, risk management, fire fighting, ambulance services and emergency medical assistance. The Safety Authority's board of directors consists of the region’s 16 municipal mayors and is chaired by the Mayor of Rotterdam, Mr Ahmed Aboutaleb. There are a total of 25 Safety Authorities in the Netherlands. Application & Necessity Today’s security risks require decisive and consistent action from governments. The emergency services and municipalities work closely together in a safety region, offering professional assistance and protection from risks and threats. In this, there are cohesive collaborations between the police departments, regional water authorities, the Port of Rotterdam Authority, environmental services and the Public Prosecution Service. This official collaboration results in short lines of communication, direct coordination and clear responsibilities, thus providing streamlined emergency assistance to civilians. In other words: the Safety Authority in the Rotterdam area is the beating heart of disaster control and crisis management in the region. Profile The greater Rotterdam area (Rijnmond) has 1.2 million inhabitants and covers an area of 862 km2. In terms of population, it is the largest region covered by a Safety Authority in the Netherlands. The region includes the Port of Rotterdam, one of the largest harbours in the world, Rotterdam - The Hague Airport and various companies in the (petro) chemical industry. As such, various hazardous substances are transported via the complex infrastructure of motorways, tunnels, railways and pipelines.