NEW’S | Azores Civil Protection promotes seminar on Natural Hazards

The Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA), an entity under the administration of the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, will promote a seminar on March 25 on “The importance of knowing and preparing for Natural Hazards.” The event will take place at the Aula Magna of the University of the Azores in Ponta Delgada.

As part of the SRPCBA’s 45th-anniversary celebrations, this initiative aims to promote reflection on the challenges and debate strategies to prepare for and respond to the natural hazards to which the Azores, due to their geographical location and geological nature, are most exposed, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, storms, slope movements or coastal overtopping.

The seminar, consisting of three panels, will be attended by a wide range of regional and national experts and professionals from various fields.

The event begins with the opening session, featuring institutional presentations, followed by the first panel titled “Understanding natural hazards in the Azores: realities and challenges.” This moment will include the participation of the Coordinator of the Azores Weather Forecasting and Surveillance Centre, Vanda Costa, the Director of the Institute for Research Institute for Volcanology and Risk Assessment, José Manuel Pacheco, and the Senior Technical Specialist from the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, Emanuel Barcelos. The event will be moderated by Félix Rodrigues, Director of EDA Renováveis responsible for Geothermal Energy.

Also in the morning, the second panel will be dedicated to preparing the response at a municipal, regional and national level. It will feature presentations by the Coordinator of the Ponta Delgada Municipal Civil Protection Service, Jorge Moniz, the President of the SRPCBA, Rui Andrade, and the Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Commander for Lisbon and the Tejo Valley, Elísio Oliveira. The session will be moderated by the President of the Board of the Madeira Regional Civil Protection Service, Richard Marques.

In the afternoon, the third and final panel will address issues such as response management in operations and how to communicate in crises/emergencies. 

It will bring together the Head of the Operations Area of the Azores Operational Command, Aristóteles Ronda Branca, the Regional Emergency Coordinator of the Portuguese Red Cross, Armando Almeida, the Head of the Operational Area of the Ponta Delgada Police Department, Eurico Machado, and the Senior Technician from the National Fire School, Gisela Oliveira. The event will be moderated by the SRPCBA’s Fire Coordinator, Hugo Santos.

The seminar is open to anyone interested in this topic, from professionals in the field to citizens wishing to learn more about natural hazards and civil protection.

Participation is free but registration is compulsory. Those who are interested can register until March 23 via the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/8CApxjsnb8?origin=lprLink.

GRA/RÁDIOILHÉU