Residents will get text messages warning them of national or local incidents such as floods.
This was announced during a visit by the Minister for the Interior Taina Bofferding at a number of CGDIS operation centres.
The government has been working on a "cell broadcast" system, like the one used in the USA, for a number of years. The "GouvAlert" app will also be modified so that police or Meteolux can use it to issue warnings.
Following last week's floods, most municipalities are still inventorying the damages. A full debrief is expected in autumn, according to the Minister. She also pointed to the concertation platform launched two years ago. She hopes that "all municipalities in the country will work together" to draw lessons from these catastrophes and not only learn to react adequately, but also better anticipate them.
Volunteers needed
Taina Bofferding is currently on the "CGDIS summer tour 2021", visiting operation and logistics centres of the emergency services. On Tuesday, she was in Sandweiler, Mersch and Lintgen. The main aim of the tour is to get an overview of the situation in the field and to thank volunteers, she says.
Nico Schiltz, head of the CIS Lintgen, said in an RTL interview that it was nice for volunteer and professional firefighters to see this level of interest from on high. While people in the field and the Minister might be focused differently, the visit was an opportunity to raise issues with the Ministry. While they are well equipped materially, they are always looking for more volunteers, said Schiltz.
Taina Bofferding pointed to a number of recent recruitment campaigns, but also to supplementary insurances found in the new CGDIS law. She praised the level of solidarity among the personnel and expressed hope that more young people and women might choose a firefighting career.
The goal of CGDIS and government is to increase the current number of 3,700 emergency service members to 4,000, with 20% professionals and 80% volunteers.
