The International Day for Disaster Reduction is celebrated tomorrow October 12, a date that intends to draw the attention of all Governments to the need to adopt policies aimed at the prevention and reduction of human and material damage directly caused by the occurrence of natural phenomena.
The initiative essentially aims to raise awareness among governments, organisations and citizens around the world to the need to develop concrete actions to help reduce vulnerabilities and increase the ability to respond to disasters.
The Government of the Azores, through the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Fighting Service (SRPCBA), has secured tangible investment in this area in order to reduce the region’s vulnerability and protect its development.
Focusing on the continuous qualitative and quantitative improvement of human resources, increasing the number and quality of equipment and facilities, and promoting a culture of safety particularly in the prevention and preparation for disasters and in the mitigation of their effects have been some of the areas where the regional government has centred its efforts.
Part of the celebrations of the International Day for Disaster Reduction, the SRPCBA will carry out among other activities the Vulcan 2011 drill in the municipality of Lajes do Pico on October 15 and 16, in order to test the readiness of different Civil Protection agents when faced with a disaster.
This drill will involve a wide range of regional directorates and other regional entities, as well as and the entities that are part of the Municipal Civil Protection Commission, superintended by the respective Town Hall.
On October 17 and 18, the SRPCBA will participate as a partner in the Açor 112 Drill, organised by the Azores Operational Command in order to prepare the Armed Forces to support civil protection operations.
On the International Day for Disaster Reduction, the Regional Secretariat for Science, Technology and Equipment, through the Regional Civil Protection Service, reaffirms its determination to successfully complete this essential task under the motto "the reduction of natural disasters concerns us all.”