Year: 2019

Algarve – Alert Situation Statement | Energy Crisis

The District Civil Protection Commission of Faro held an extraordinarily meeting last night August 10, following Order No. 7130-C / 2019, issued by the Minister of Internal Affairs, who declared the Alert Situation in Civil Protection Basic Law .

This meeting, preceded by the extraordinary meeting of the District Operational Coordination Centre (CCOD) and the consultation of the Municipal Civil Protection Services (SMPC) of the Region, aimed to assess the state of play on fuel supply in the Region as well as determining and monitoring measures of the impacts associated with this situation.

Considering the current state of play in the Region, which was found to be normal, with few exceptions, it was unanimously decided not to propose the activation of the District Civil Protection Emergency Plan (PDEPC), as no criteria existed for the effect.

The CDPC also decided, in keeping with current monitoring, to request the Municipal Civil Protection Services (SMPC) to monitor the situation of fuels in the Strategic Network of Gas Stations (REPA).

In order to maintain safety levels and public normalcy, the CDPC advises all citizens not to resort to the use of Jerry cans to cope with this period of Energy Crisis, remembering that improper or irresponsible use of them may cause danger to property and people. It also points out that it is prohibited to store liquid fuels because of the risk of vapour release and ignition, and that there are limits to the amount of fuel to be carried in Jerry cans in a private car. In addition to the safety procedures that the situation requires, the CDPC appeals to common sense, public tranquillity, and sensible preventive precautions.

The CDPC will continue to monitor the situation through the CCOD and will meet again, if necessary, taking appropriate action at any given time.

The District Civil Protection Commission of Faro met extraordinarily today, August 10, following Order No. 7130-C / 2019, issued by His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs, who declared the Alert Situation in Civil Protection Basic Law (LBPC), Law No. 27/2006, of July 3, as amended (Law No. 80/2015, of August 3), for the period between 23:59 hours of August 09 and 23:59 hours of August 21, 2019, for the whole territory of mainland Portugal.

This meeting, preceded by the extraordinary meeting of the District Operational Coordination Centre (CCOD) and the consultation of the Municipal Civil Protection Services (SMPC) of the Region, aimed to assess the state of play on fuel supply in the Region as well as determination of monitoring measures of the impacts associated with this situation.

Considering the current state of play in the Region, which was found to be normal, with few exceptions, it was unanimously decided not to propose the activation of the District Civil Protection Emergency Plan (PDEPC), as no criteria for the effect.

The CDPC also decided, in keeping with current monitoring, to request the Municipal Civil Protection Services (SMPC) to monitor the situation of fuels in the Strategic Network of Gas Stations (REPA).

In order to maintain safety levels and public normality, the CDPC advises all citizens not to resort to Jerry cans to cope with this period of Energy Crisis, remembering that improper or irresponsible use of this equipment may cause danger to property and humans. It also points out that it is prohibited to store liquid fuels because of the risk of vapour release and ignition, and that there are limits to the amount of fuel to be carried in Jerry cans in a private car. In addition to the safety procedures that the situation requires, the CDPC appeals to common sense, public tranquillity, and preventive behaviours.

The CDPC will continue to monitor the situation through the CCOD and will meet, if necessary, taking appropriate action at any given time.

Safe Communities Portugal attended the CDPC meeting and raised the issue concerning the transportation and storage of fuel

Lisbon, 10 Aug 2019 (Lusa) – The Minister of Internal Affairs said today, as part of the drivers’ strike, that the emergency network, with 52 exclusive and 320 non-exclusive filling stations, “will allow the response to the priority functions of the state”.

Eduardo Cabrita was speaking at the end of an emergency meeting of about two hours with the president of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), representatives of ministries and security forces “to settle details” for operations during the indefinite strike of drivers for hazardous materials and goods, which begins on Monday and has been confirmed today in trade unions.

“This meeting resulted from Friday’s statement by the Council of Ministers of a situation of energy crisis, starting today, on a preventive basis and the determination by order MAI and the Ministry of the Environment to start operating from 00:00 Sunday of the emergency network of filling stations, consisting of 52 exclusive and 320 non-exclusive filling stations, and putting all Civil Protection structures on alert”he said.

The official stated that at today’s meeting, at the Civil Protection headquarters in Carnaxide, involving all areas of Government that are represented, security forces and other Civil Protection agents, “an analysis of the close partnership between ANEPC and ENSE, the authority that regulates the state’s energy reserves, has the mechanisms that will ensure that the emergency network will be able to respond to what the state’s priority operating needs are.

“We have determined mechanisms that involve all areas of governance, which will allow to assess from Monday, starting day of the strike, to check daily the need for response, contemplating access to this network of priority ports and a set of other institutions, public and private, due to the urgency of reviewing public supply, ”he added.

 

 

Restrictions come into place Sunday 11th August 23 59 hrs

Lusa.pt Portugal’s government announced on Friday 9^th August that during the truckers’ strike, refuelling for light vehicles will be rationed to a maximum of 25 litres and heavy vehicles 100 litres, available only at filling stations that do not belong to the Strategic Network of Filling Stations (SNFS).

In a press conference, the minister of environment and energy transition, João Pedro Matos Fernandes, explained that SNFS has two types of stations: one for priorities, such as the armed forces, medical emergency, transport of agricultural products and the other for the general public.

There are 321 priority stations in the SNFS network.

The general public can refuel at SNFS stations that are not exclusive to priority transport or similar, but with a limit of 15 litres.

The strike, scheduled for 12 August for an indefinite period, threatens to bring the country to a stand-still, since it will affect all types of transport in all areas, not only the transport of dangerous goods. Supplies to supermarkets, industry and services will all be affected.

 

 

Lisbon, 09 Aug (Lusa) – People who are storing fuel inside their homes jerry cans are in breach of the law regulating the Technical Fire Safety in Buildings, National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC).

According to a reply sent to Lusa by ANEPC, the decree-law regulating the technical subject of Fire Safety in Buildings states that “in places of use inside buildings and enclosures only the existence of combustible gases in exclusively for LPG and non-LPG gas bottles or cartridges”.

The same ordinance, in the article concerning “Collection of Condominiums” refers to the prohibition of storing combustible liquids, namely “combustible or toxic gases”, in addition to “combustible liquids whose flash point is below 21º C (…) or flash point between 21 and 55 ° C in quantities exceeding 10 liters” and “combustible liquids with flash point greater than 55 ° C in quantities exceeding 20 liters”.

The storage of liquids and combustible gases, in violation of the requirements determined for their location or permitted quantities, may lead to violators of fines ranging from 275 euros to 2,750 euros for individuals or up to 27,500 euros

Already the Protection and Relief Association also warned today about the unsafe transportation of the jerry cans with fuel, considering that the authorities are failing the inspection.

“[Transportation] also puts people at risk and road safety at stake, as in the event of an accident the possibility of these fuel containers burning in the event of a fire increases,” he told Lusa João Paulo Saraiva , President of APROSOC – Protection and Relief Association.

Despite realizing that people need fuels “and do what they can to maintain the normality of their daily lives,” João Paulo Saraiva points a finger at the authorities he criticizes for not monitoring how fuels are being transported.

João Paulo Saraiva considers it important that, besides the citizens being alerted to the fines to which they may be subjected by the authorities, it would also be advisable to explain “that the fuel transportation limit is also related to their safety and not to say only that another 10 liters or 60 liters are subject to this and that. ”

According to the official, the containers should be transported fixedly, with the opening valve facing upwards, “in order to ensure that in case of an accident they are not dislodged”.

A bomb hoax forced the closure of the Mar Shopping mall in Loulé for about two hours, between 1 pm and about 3 pm today, Thursday. The GNR confirmed the occurrence and that the author of the threat, which turned out to be false, has already been identified.

An on-site witness told our newspaper that it all started around 1 pm and ended around 3 pm. During this period, the doors of the shopping complex were closed and no one could enter Mar Shopping. In some stores, at least employees could not leave. In the end, “a man was caught.” “Everything was crazy and people were all very scared,” said the same source, a commercial space client, who preferred to remain anonymous.

Despite the apparatuses in some places, many of the mall’s customers and shoppers didn’t even realize that something was going on, as another reader told our newspaper.

“The individual who will have promoted this bomb threat has already been properly identified. Now, for us, the normal procedures in this kind of situation are proceeding, which are all planned. The original situation is already properly controlled, ”he said.

As for the non-evacuation of the complex, the GNR spokesman did not confirm this situation, nor did he deny it, sending any clarification on this matter to those responsible for the shopping centre.

‘GNR, as a security force in the face of such a situation, must take a number of steps. But let us not forget that an infrastructure of this size has a private security force and its own protocols, which it must activate in case of fire or when there is a bomb threat. Therefore, this question has to be asked to the head of security of Mar Shopping », said.

“The priority, both for GNR and commercial infrastructure, was to safeguard people’s lives and safety and that has happened. We made the normal steps in these types of situations, which are filed », assured the spokesman of GNR..

Meanwhile, the management of Mar Shopping, issued a statement that ‘has been alerted to a possible security risk. In this sense, the security protocol was immediately activated for these situations, which includes contact with the authorities, who have come to the scene to certify the veracity of the threat.

“For MAR Shopping, the most important thing is the safety of those who visit us and those who work here, so we have complied with all the authorities’ recommendations,” adds the administration of the Shopping Center.

“Normality is now restored and there is no reason for any further action,” the statement said.

 

According to VSOT Portugal as at 1630 hrs 8^th August, there is no fuel available at the Galp de Alfragide gas station in Lisbon (North-South direction), as is the Cova do Gato gas station in Alentejo. There are also 20 other stations in mainland that no longer have one of the fuels: gasoline, diesel and or LPG, according to the map created by VOST Portugal.

Of the 20 stations already without one of the fuels, there are eight without gasoline, ten without diesel and two without LPG. One of the stations without gasoline is the A2 station in Aljustrel (south-north direction).

The REPA (Strategic Network of Gas Stations are identified on the map) posts are intended to supply emergency vehicles and will only be active if the strike progresses and as soon as the Government decrees the state of energy emergency. Until then, they are normal filling stations.

According to Jorge Gomes, one of the founders of VOST Portugal – Digital Volunteers in Emergency Situations , the platform already existed at the time of the first strike in April – the fuel supply pump validation system was improved.

“We only report a [no fuel] post after at least ten individual submissions [informing that a particular pump has no fuel] and we also receive calls or private messages from our volunteers who are on site and are able to report no there is fuel”.

The new platform of VOST Portugal is more accessible to the user, has access to maps available for free by the company Mapbox, with the indication of existing stations throughout the continental territory. The map will display not only gasoline and diesel but also LPG data, and this time it will be easier to consult the map via smartphone – in April over 80% of accesses were made via mobile VOST reports.

The platform now has an automatic validation system – there were cases, in the first strike, when wrong information was sent about pumps that would already be out of fuel, which was not true, but a strategy of those who wanted to avoid floods at the pump where used to supply, according to Jorge Gomes, one of the founders of VOST Portugal.

The platform also has an application – the API – available to large distributors and official entities that can place information on the platform and will have priority.

Waze Portugal – which also has volunteer work – has joined VOST and will update the information on its platform via the API.

 

The Government has recognised as a natural disaster the fire that struck several parishes of the municipalities of Vila de Rei and Mação, between July 20 and 23, and will grant aid to farms, was announced today.

In an order published today in Diário da República, the Government states that the forest fires that broke out between July 20 and 23, “of enormous and devastating proportions, caused extensive damage and losses, particularly in certain parishes of the municipalities of Vila de Rei and Mação ”, in the districts of Castelo Branco and Santarém, respectively.

Thus, according to the order, the Government also establishes aid, through the Mainland Rural Development Program (PDR 2020), for the restoration or restoration of the productive potential of damaged farms, as it had previously done with the storm. Leslie who hit the center zone, particularly Figueira da Foz, in October 2018.

Support under this operation is intended to help rebuild or restore production conditions on farms affected by natural disasters, adverse weather accidents or catastrophic events in order to create conditions for their return to normal activity.

The parishes most affected by the flames were Foundada and São João do Peso, in the municipality of Vila de Rei, and Almond and Cardigos, in the municipality of Mação.

Only those holdings whose damage suffered exceeds 30% of their agricultural potential shall be eligible for the aid.

According to the order published today, the levels of support to be granted are divided into the following categories: 100% of eligible expenditure up to and including € 5,000, 85% for losses between € 5,000 and € 50,000 and € 50 % between 50 thousand euros and 800 thousand euros.

The fire that erupted on July 20 in Vila de Rei and spread to the municipality of Mação, was reportedly dominated on July 23, causing 17 injured transported to the hospital, according to authorities.

 

The Portuguese Air Force (FAP) flew over the area between Montijo and Castelo Branco today to test the sensors that can help with firefighting by transmitting real-time aerial images to a ground station.

“Basically it’s a video transmission system for a ground station, so all that we’ll be seeing on the plane, we can transmit to a ground station, which then passes this information and this video to other entities,” according to Captain Nuno Marques in an interview with Lusa.

He explained that the equipment could be useful in “everything that may involve the theatre of operations”, as the surroundings, positions, means of approaching or departing.

The C-295 M aircraft captured images, also available in infrared, and could see with precision everything that happened on land.

This was a demonstration flight, but could “move on to a real mission” if necessary, transmitting information to entities involved in firefighting, such as the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority.

However, Saturday morning was quiet in the centrer of the country and there were no occurrences to register from FAP’s point of view.

“For the time being, we had no occurrences, just made a surveillance flight to see if we detected any situation or any burns, for example, but it was not the case,” he said.

According to the captain, this is a “very useful” tool and the goal is that it will be used in the future to prevent and fight fires.

“We are here to do our best and help to prevent and anticipate situations that may escalate to other dimensions,” he said.

Lisbon, 01 Aug 2019 (Lusa) – More than 60 Navy and Army military personnel will be reinforcing fire prevention surveillance and patrols from nine districts from Friday to Monday, the General Staff said today. General of the Armed Forces.

“Rising temperatures for the next few days will bring 66 military personnel to the ground from tomorrow [Friday] on 22 patrols (six Navy and 16 Army), which will reinforce ground surveillance and deterrent patrols in nine districts of mainland Portugal, in support of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) on fire prevention, ”reads a statement sent to the media.

EMGFA states that the objective of this measure is “to increase prevention actions throughout the country, with special focus on the districts of Bragança, Beja, Castelo Branco, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Portalegre, Santarém and Vila Real”.

“The military of the Armed Forces will be engaged in ground surveillance operations, but, if necessary, may be engaged in aftermath actions or general support for protective and relief operations that may be triggered,” he adds in a statement released today.

According to the EMGFA, these military personnel “add up to the 124 who are already in the same functions in much of the national territory”.

Among these, 105 military personnel are “within the scope of the ‘faunos plan”, in support of the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests, and 19 military personnel under municipal protocols, in surveillance, deterrence and public awareness missions ”.

“The Armed Forces General Staff, through its liaison officers to the District Relief Operations Commands, is constantly monitoring the evolution of the operational situation,” the note added.

Civil Protection today extended the special state of yellow alert until Monday on the continuation of favourable weather conditions to the risk of rural fire and announced the reinforcement of means and air and ground surveillance.

The decision to extend the yellow alert is justified due to weather issues (wind and low humidity) and the fact that August is the month with the largest influx of people into the interior of the country, which increases the risk of rural ignitions.

Although extreme temperatures are not expected until Monday, it is expected to maintain the weather conditions observed over the past few days in a moderate to strong wind, both day and night, and low relative humidity throughout the southern Tagus Valley and and in the northern interior, especially in the districts of Castelo Branco and Guarda.

To address these critical factors, ANEPC’s deputy operational commander, Pedro Nunes, said that Civil Protection will increase air and ground surveillance through the use of observation and surveillance aircraft that are part of the forest fire fighting device to use Air Force drones to fulfill the mission in question.

The state of alert – said Pedro Nunes – will apply in the districts of Vila Real, Bragança, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Santarem, Portalegre, Evora, Beja and Faro.