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The Rescue Board is focusing on sharing knowledge on what are the basics of preparing for crises and disruptions this autumn. Crises may strike unexpectedly, and their impact depends on how well the government, local municipalities, and the people have prepared for them.
According to the Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets, the preparedness of the population, both from the perspective of the safety of the people as well as functioning of the state, is important in any crisis, as even in the case of a military attack the front line can only stand as long as everything remains functional behind the lines. ‘The experience of Ukraine and other countries shows how important it is for the people to be prepared for different situations, as they are the ones who form the rear which helps the country to function in the event of a crisis. In the case of a military attack, the resistance on the front line will collapse if the population in the rear is vulnerable, bringing the state down on its knees. To increase the preparedness of our rescuers, local municipalities, communities, and the people for crises, we have decided to invest more than 16 million euros in civil defence in our country over the next three years. All this to make our society stronger and ensure that the rear will remain strong,’ said Läänemets.
According to Margo Klaos, Director-General of the Rescue Board, the key to overcome any crisis successfully is how well the people of Estonia are prepared and know what they can do to protect themselves. ‘If we are prepared for the worst, we are ready to face anything. Extensive knowledge on crises and the preparedness of every individual allows us to save human lives during a crisis in those situations where help may not reach everyone immediately,’ said Klaos. ‘Everyone should think about their home and assess what would it mean for themselves and their family if they had to cope on their own without electricity, water, and heating for a week.’
The Estonian Rescue Board is the leading agency for civil protection and is, among other things, responsible for sheltering, large-scale evacuation, development of public warning, and improving the preparedness of people for crises.
‘When a crisis is here, there is no more time for preparations. The Rescue Board advises and educates people to ensure that everyone is better prepared for crisis situations. For example, businesses, local municipalities, and communities can request civil protection trainings. I would invite everyone to take advantage of this opportunity,’ said Klaos.
‘Among other things, we are establishing resilience hubs in collaboration with local municipalities – information and support points which local residents can turn to, if necessary, in the case of a serious crisis. We are also working with our partners every day to ensure that there is a functional public warning system in the country – from the sirens to broadcast media. We are working on developing new public warning means, as well as bettering those that are already in use, and make sure that any information and instructions can be communicated to the population as operatively and quickly as possible in a crisis,’ noted Klaos.
In October, the Rescue Board will be organising an extensive awareness campaign titled ‘Prepare to protect your life/your family/Estonia!’ to provide basic information on what people need to pay attention to when preparing for crises. Throughout this autumn, the Rescue Board will be focussing on the different aspects of preparing Estonian people and businesses for crisis situations. Crisis trainings are also provided to businesses and organisations and there is also an online course on civil protection being prepared, the testing of which will begin in the middle of October. The Rescue Board is constantly working on improving the preparedness of local municipalities and on training them.
Janek Lass, Deputy Director of the Tallinn Municipal Police Department, stresses that the city will support the people of Tallinn in every way during a crisis. ‘In a crisis, it is important that people receive the assistance and advice needed quickly and as directly as possible. This is where the local municipality can help. We provide advice and support in preparing for and overcoming crises, to ensure that the people of the city have someone to turn to quickly.’