A system to warn populations about emergencies such as fires and earthquakes via mobile phone text messages as well as TV and radio is being created by communications authority ANACOM at the Portuguese government’s request.
According to Renascença radio, it could be operational by the end of June.
The idea was discussed last week in a meeting involving the Secretary of State for Civil Protection, the president of ANACOM, telecommunications operators (NOS, MEO, Vodafone and Nowo) and TV and radio stations.
ANACOM spokesperson Ilda Matos told Lusa news agency the system aims to give people more time and information to prepare for all kinds of emergencies, from fires and earthquakes to floods, tsunamis and even terrorist attacks.
The working group in charge of the system will be looking at other successful systems already in operation abroad, Matos added.
As Público newspaper explains, this issue was first discussed by the Council of Ministers on October 21 following the tragic fires of Pedrógão Grande, which killed over 60 people and injured over 250.
False alarm sent out in Hawaii
While this new system may be an important step towards preparing citizens for emergency situations, Portugal will want to make sure it avoids mistakes like the one that sparked panic in Hawaii last month.
An emergency alert notification sent out on January 13 claiming a “ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii” turned out to be a false alarm, which caused a wave of panic on the island.
State leaders and emergency officials blamed the mistake on an employee who “pushed the wrong button”.
michael.bruxo@algarveresident.com
