The Regional Director for Public Works and Communications revealed in Ponta Delgada that the Regional Government will “provide, already in 2020, a text alert system to the population for mobile network users who are in a risk area, regardless of the mobile operator and not subject to registration."
Frederico Sousa spoke Saturday at the opening session of a debate promoted by the Portuguese Engineers Association on "What to do in the next seismic crisis in the Azores." On the occasion, he stressed that “specific measures, such as this one implemented by the Regional Government, will contribute to increasing resilience and safety in the event of an earthquake or other phenomena."
"This measure also aims to make the archipelago of the Azores a safe tourist destination," added the Regional Director.
The Regional Government, thus, reinforces the efficiency of communications as well as the dissemination of information and alerts related to events that may compromise the safety of residents and visitors.
One of the most important measures of the ALERT4YOU project has been implemented with the entry into operation of the Population Alert System.
This system will be further developed to allow the integration and use of other alerting platforms and channels. Its multi-channel operation will begin by connecting to mobile operators for the sending of text messages and providing an application (app).
The Regional Directorate for Public Works and Communications represents the Regional Government in the Working Group on Population Alert Systems, which is coordinated by ANACOM. It also includes the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority, the Regional Civil Protection Services of the Azores, the Ministry of Internal Administration and telecommunications operators.
In this context, it was possible to coordinate the work carried out by these entities with the aim of providing the entire country, in general, and the Azores, in particular, with a sophisticated and innovative communications platform for the sending alerts and warnings to the populations via text message.
The Regional Director also launched a challenge to the Engineers' Association to organise, in conjunction with other entities, an international congress in the Azores on seismology” in the near future.