The readiness of the regional territorial subsystem of the State System for the Prevention and Elimination of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence (SSPESCD) for emergency response and population protection was discussed in Vitebsk. The meeting was attended by the head of the regional executive committee, Alexander Subbotin, and the First Deputy Minister for Emergency Situations, Alexander Khudoleev.
The last such meeting was held 7 years ago. However, according to Alexander Subbotin, observing natural disasters uncharacteristic for our country, man-made accidents at large industrial facilities, peat fires, and the foreign policy situation, such events should be organised more frequently.
– We all anxiously watched the aftermath of the severe weather in the Gomel region, where the elements caused considerable damage to the region in just tens of minutes. No one is immune to this. To respond quickly and effectively in similar cases, it is necessary to check the readiness of the regional territorial system for the prevention and elimination of emergency situations and Civil Defence, – emphasised Alexander Subbotin. – It is better to prepare for everything in advance, to develop an action plan for emergency response and population protection.
The head of the region also instructed to inform him about any shortcomings that could become critical in the event of emergencies in the region.
Reference "VV": A comprehensive exercise on the protection of the population and territories from emergency situations will be held in the Vitebsk region from August 26 to September 6.
As Alexander Khudoleev explained, the main focus will be on inter-service cooperation and timely population notification, including the use of special vehicles and public address systems.
– Following the events in the Gomel region, the head of state signed a decree, within the framework of which a task was set not only for the employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations but also for the Ministry of Forestry, energy companies, and other departments – to improve work approaches related to responding to meteorological emergencies and their consequences, – noted Alexander Khudoleev. – Incidentally, the Vitebsk region was least affected by the hurricane that swept across the republic on July 13-14. 10 districts and 257 settlements were affected, of which 240 were disconnected from the power supply.