Madeira is introducing an SMS warning system to alert residents and visitors to risks or emergencies.
The Regional Government signed cooperation agreements with the three national mobile operators, MEO, NOS and Vodafone, on Tuesday morning to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. The ceremony was attended by Richard Marques, President of the Regional Civil Protection Service.
Regional Secretary for Health and Civil Protection, Micaela Freitas, described the agreements as a decisive step towards implementing the new regional warning system.
The service is intended to reach people in Madeira, including tourists and other visitors. Messages will be sent in Portuguese or English, according to technical criteria used to identify recipients.
The agreements establish a key component of Madeira’s regional risk monitoring and communication system. The aim is to provide timely information so people can take steps to protect themselves, helping to reduce the consequences of serious accidents and disasters.
The initiative forms part of a wider programme to modernise monitoring and emergency warning systems, alongside activities bringing together civil protection organisations to strengthen the region’s preparedness, response capacity and resilience.
Emergency communications are also being reinforced with 140 new radios: 90 portable units and 50 vehicle-mounted units.
The equipment, for use on Portugal’s Integrated Emergency and Security Networks System (SIRESP), represents an investment of €237,656 from the Regional Budget.
The radios were handed over during a ceremony at the Regional Civil Protection Service’s headquarters. They will support communication and coordination between civil protection teams and security services during emergency operations.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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