How Bulgarian Municipalities Plan for Disasters—An Analysis of the Availability and Content of the Municipal Disaster Protection Plans

This study examines how Bulgarian municipalities plan for disasters through the analysis of their municipal disaster protection plans’ public availability. These documents are legally mandated and form the cornerstone of local prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. The research combined a systematic search for publicly accessible plans across all 265 municipalities with a detailed review of the plans from the 27 regional centers. A GIS dataset was constructed linking municipalities with plan availability, population data, and direct links to documents. The analysis revealed that while most municipalities publish disaster-related documentation, accessibility remains uneven and many documents are hidden in poorly organized websites or uploaded as scanned image-only PDFs, limiting usability. Structural analysis of regional center plans showed that all cover the legally required hazards of earthquake, flood, and nuclear or radiological accidents, but the depth, clarity, and inclusion of additional risks vary widely. Only a few municipalities integrate climate change and emerging hazards, while most remain focused on traditional risks. The findings point to a gap between formal compliance with the Disaster Protection Act and effective public-oriented disaster planning.