New equipment and vehicles were delivered to the municipalities of Mariana, Barra Longa, Rio Doce and Santa Cruz do Escalvado
In order to strengthen the Civil Defense and Protection System of the regions affected by the collapse of the Fundão dam, the Renova Foundation delivered new vehicles and equipment to the municipalities of Mariana, Barra Longa, Rio Doce and Santa Cruz do Escalvados, in Minas Gerais. The materials reinforce the structure of the Municipal Civil Defense and Protection Coordination (COMPDEC).
The packages delivered to each municipality are comprised of a 4-wheel drive pick-up truck, with cap, with identifying prints, tow and GPS. | Photo: Released
The packages delivered to each municipality are comprised of a 4-wheel drive pick-up truck, with cap, with identifying prints, with GPS and tow, as well as 50 identifying vests for residents part of the Civil Defense and Protection Community Centers (NUPDEC), 20 identifying vests for the Municipal Civil Defense and Protection agents, 30 rubber cones of 70 cm, a notebook, camera, power generator, among other items.
The mayor of Rio Doce, Silvério da Luz, highlights the importance of empowering municipal Civil Defense in preserving the life of the population. “Since the collapse of the Fundão dam, we have noticed the general lack of structure of Civil Defense. Renova’s action is meant to change this scenario. This equipment will enable us to meet the need to protect the population. In fact, it is a great action in favor of the recovery”, said the mayor.
The coordinator of the Civil Defense of Mariana (COMDEC), Welbert Stopa, agrees that the new equipment arrives at the right time. “These materials will help our work a lot, given the fact that many incidents of landslides and floods occur during the rainy season, as well as the prevention and training actions we are developing with the residents of the dam area. So, it’s not just the Civil Defense who wins, but Mariana as a whole”, Stopa said.
The delivery of the equipment represents an investment of the Renova Foundation in the structuring of the COMPDEC’s. The objective is to improve prevention, preparedness and mitigation actions, as well as optimize the assistance services to citizens in adverse events, which will mean minimizing the impacts of the disaster. The action is outlined in the Transaction and Conduct Adjustment Term (TTAC), which places under the responsibility of the Renova Foundation the “empowering the Civil Defense Protection organs of the most affected municipalities “: Mariana, Barra Longa, Santa Cruz do Escalvado and Rio Doce.
“This work began last year with the installation of emergency alarms and flood control system and now we are going to support the Civil Defense system of the municipalities”, explained Shymena Guedes, leader of Renova Foundation’s educational and cultural actions.
According to her, the next step is the implementation of the “Safe School” project, which will lead to discussion of prevention and preparation for municipal and state schools in the four municipalities. “In a natural way, students and teachers will be motivated to think about risk prevention. We hope this will go past the school walls and reach the whole community. This action by Renova does not end with the delivery of the equipment, but it helps prepare the municipalities for environmental emergencies. It starts now and continues until 2022”, Shymena said.