Natural disasters are spreading all over the world, and long-term effects suffered by more vulnerable communities are catastrophic. Tsunami and earthquake that ravaged islands in the Indian Ocean last year took 300 thousand human lives from 11 countries of the world.
Issues of early warning and disaster prevention have recently been discussed in the United Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction held in Kobe, Japan, with participation of Lithuanian delegation headed by Mr. Anatolijus Rimkevicius, Undersecretary of the Ministry of the Interior. The Conference saw a participation of over 5000 people from 150 countries and over a hundred of non-governmental organizations.
Kobe was chosen purposefully 's a decade ago there was a major earthquake that took 6300 human casualties. It was a painful experience for the people of Japan, who were too late to see that they had been unprepared for a disaster of such extent.
The aim of the Conference was to reduce the ravages of natural disasters, to encourage planning and practical implementation, to strengthen local and national capacities ensuring elimination of disaster reasons.
The Conference was opened by Mr. Jan Egelend, the United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary General for humanitarian affairs who stressed the importance of not only approving the UN-drafted disaster relief plan but also to seek opportunities and ways of implementing such plan as soon as possible by supplementing UN development programs with preventive and training measures.
The Conference was honored with the presence of the Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko who noted the extensive Japanese experience in the sphere of disaster reduction. The Emperor urged the developed countries to assist more vulnerable communities, to forewarn them about approaching disasters and to safeguard millions of lives from disasters in the future.
"Greenhouse effect" is
the cause of most disasters
The final statement, which was approved by the Lithuanian delegation, stressed that it was necessary to endorse the development of universal early warning system. Moreover, the EU stressed the importance of Kyoto Protocol, which seeks to halt climate changes. At the moment 120 countries representing 2/3 of the world population have ratified Kyoto Protocol. In the period from 1990 to 2008-2012 the Protocol obliges the EU to reduce the emission of gases that cause greenhouse effect by 8 percent. The emission of heat and other industrial waste to atmosphere is the major case of natural disasters.
The Conference approved the Hoygo Action Program for 2005-2015, which will enable the crisis vulnerable countries to reduce risk factors and to invest significantly into preparedness for disaster relief. This Program should become the main document included into national action plan for disaster relief.
Lithuania maintains
lower risk zone
According to most of geographic factors, Lithuania is considered to be a territory of the relatively lower risk level 's with recurring river floods, strong winds and rare earthquakes.
The Lithuanian seismic stations in 2001 recorded the earth vibrations; still the population of the country didn't feel those vibrations. The stronger tremors rocked Lithuania by the end of September last year. The moving earthquake equalled to the strength of the last mentioned which was recorded in the city Kedainiai in 1974. There were no tremors of such strength (earth vibrations were up to 3, 5 by the Richter scale) fixed in the Baltic Sea region up to that time.
Since 1960, the main information on seismic activity in the territory of Lithuania was based on the registration data available in the Scandinavian seismic stations. The data are transmitted by the seismic alarm and monitoring system that was installed in the territory of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant in 1999 and designed to protect the INPP from the possible seismic waves as well as to monitor the seismic activity of the Earth's crust.
Lack of
advanced technologies
Lithuania is still lacking the advanced technologies that could alert of the imminent tremors. As our country has become a full-fledged member of the European Union, the Civil Protection Law is being improved as well as the amendments according to the EU Civil Protection Requirements are being arranged.
On the grounds of the plan of basic activities for 2005 of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Department under the MoI, the population warning and information system is intended to be update already this year by the organising the civil protection.
A month ago the tornado called "Ervinas" was blustering in the Northern Europe. The storm that swathed through the territory of Lithuania caused damages to the population, the buildings were damaged, the trees were broken, the roads were blocked, the electric lines were cut off, the heating supply was stopped in some places of the country. Most of the damages were incurred to the Lithuanian seacoast by strong winds. The waves overwhelming from the Baltic Sea of approximately 3's4 meters high turned over the safety piers; the dunes of Palanga were struck especially hard 's the sea swallowed another 5 meters. This time the dune damage was much bigger than five years ago when the tornado "Anatolijus" had swathed through.
Another problem of Lithuania 's the floods, characteristic to the rivers of our country and the high water rising in winter in the western part of Lithuania. During the river floods, the water level in the mid-river of the Nemunas and Neris may rise as high as 10 meters. The highest level of flood occurrence is fixed in the delta of the Nemunas. Catastrophic events of recent years in our neighbour country Poland may be considered a solid argument for such issues to be regarded with greater consideration.
International cooperation of the Republic of Lithuania in the sphere of civil protection is based on the international generally accepted principles of civil protection, human rights protection, environmental protection and safeguarding of human welfare, also in compliance with the international agreements and other law acts.
Society awareness helps
reduce damages
Mr. Anatolijus Rimkevicius, Undersecretary of the Ministry of the Interior, stresses the importance to inform the society of the danger arising in emergency situations as soon as possible. For example, seeking to avoid the earthquake, the awareness of basic rules is essential. Usually, during the earthquake, the safest way is to stay outside or in the places where there are no trees, electric cables, poles and etc.
Having felt the signs of earthquake, one must leave the building as soon as possible. If an earthquake occurred while in a multi-storey, one must stay inside. It is recommended to hide in the doorways or under the secure tables. It is also very important to get ready for repeated tremors and to be informed about every possible exit of the living house or workplace. All exits must be explored, so they could serve as a good escape in case of emergency.
"Basing on the experience of other countries, we must prepare our society for practical actions, so that it could shift from common-life conditions to emergency situations, with the smallest losses as possible, ensuring that peace is protected, human lives, health and property are safeguarded, environment protected", 's stated Mt. Anatolijus Rimkevicius, Undersecretary of the MoI.
Emergency Situations Commission of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and Civil Protection Training Centre of the Civil Protection Board at the Fire Prevention and Rescue Department under the MoI are responsible for civil protection training, prevention and information dissemination to the public at the national level.
In case the hazard is forecasted at the municipal or county level, information is delivered by the Preliminary Divisions of the Civil Protection Departments of the County Authorities.
Under the regulations of civil protection training, the civil protection training courses are arranged every year. It is the integrated training for the State Management and Local Government Institutions, Commercial Entities, Civil Protection and Rescue Forces and for the population.
Hazard warning signals
With the new potential threat phenomena, such as earthquake, D-6 oilfield exploitation launched, Introductory Civil Protection Instruction was updated and supplemented. Moreover, the population and management links warning and information system was created. It consists of the electric sirens, state and territorial radio, television and other mass media, special vehicles equipped with sound amplification-transmission systems, sound alarm devices used by commercial entities, vehicle sound alarm devices, means of radio and non-wireless communication, couriers.
Eight civil protection warnings are approved to announce about an emergency situation via the aforementioned means. Such warnings as "Hurricane Danger!", "Flood Danger!", "Catastrophic Flooding!" are used to warn of approaching natural disasters. The major warning "Attention Everyone!" can be announced in case of any threat. Upon hearing this warning it is necessary to turn on the radio or television without delay, to listen to the announcement and to follow the recommendations strictly.
