On November 8, 2018, Catalonia conducted its second emergency drill of the year, coordinated by the Centre de Coordinació Operativa de Catalunya (CECAT). The primary goal was to test the proper functioning of alert sirens and promote risk awareness among the population.
Drill Execution
Starting at 10 a.m., 86 sirens were activated across 38 municipalities in Catalonia. In the Camp de Tarragona region, nearly half of the alarms were triggered, with 46 schools actively participating. According to Eli Llombart, head of Civil Protection in Tarragona, “the objective is to verify that they work, that they sound and are heard, and above all, that the population knows and knows how to act; we must have a culture of risk, know where we live and what to do if an emergency occurs.”
The drill involved activating alarms signaling the need for population confinement, followed ten minutes later by another activation indicating the end of the risk episode. Such exercises aim to reduce the number of calls to emergency services during real incidents, reflecting a better understanding of protocols by citizens.
Lafcarr’s Role in Siren Installation
Sirens installed by Lafcarr were activated in various municipalities, including the chemical sector of Llobregat, Vallès Occidental and Bages, Vallès Oriental, Flix and Tortosa, Port of Barcelona and Zona Franca, northern and southern Tarragona industrial zones, chemical sector of Llobregat, Tordera, and Neoelectra Aran. The only reported incident occurred in Martorell, where one alarm failed to sound due to a battery issue.
Importance of Risk Awareness
These drills are essential for preparing the population for potential chemical emergencies. Active participation from schools and the broader community underscores the importance of understanding and following established protocols to ensure everyone’s safety.
For more information, you can consult the original article in La Vanguardia:
