Torsten Schack Pedersen, the newly appointed Minister for Social Security and Preparedness, has expressed criticism regarding the slow response faced by many Danes when their vehicles were caught in a widespread snowstorm earlier in January. Hanne Gylling shared her experience of being stranded for 22 hours in her car on the E45 motorway amid the blizzard, emphasizing the need for clearer information from emergency services about road conditions and survival strategies in such situations.

Schack Pedersen points out that the management of these circumstances now falls under the jurisdiction of his new ministry. He acknowledges that the response to the snowstorm was unsatisfactory and pledges to make improvements moving forward. “We need to ensure better protection for the Danish people, and this will be a central task for me,” he stated. He emphasizes the goal of being both preventive and reactive to address disasters more effectively.

He also adds that Danish citizens can expect a more efficient emergency service in 2024, which will better secure public safety. However, the specific methods for implementing these improvements remain unclear at this time. The minister has committed to placing a greater focus on effectively addressing these challenges in the future.