On 25 August, President Edgars Rinkēvičs met with Raivis Ragainis, Chairman of Jēkabpils Municipality Council, and representatives of the Civil Protection Commission at the premises of the Jēkabpils Municipal Police. The President also visited a medium-voltage power line operated by “Sadales tīkls”, where work is continuing to restore electricity supply following the storm that struck during the night of 23 August.
President Rinkēvičs also met with staff from the Jēkabpils unit of the State Fire and Rescue Service, as well as a representative of the Ancene Volunteer Firefighters’ Association, who took part in rescue operations in Jēkabpils Municipality. During the meeting, they discussed the work carried out by rescue services under intensified conditions in the days following the storm.
E. Rinkēvičs expressed his gratitude to all the services involved, including employees of “Augstsprieguma tīkls” and “Sadales tīkls”, firefighters, rescue workers, and volunteers who have been involved in dealing with the aftermath of the storm and continue to do so.
“Having reviewed the information provided by “Sadales tīkls”, “Augstsprieguma tīkls” and other institutions, it is clear that the disruption to communications was a major problem. The loss of communications significantly hampered efforts to deal with the consequences of the storm, including restoring electricity supply and enabling municipalities to carry out their work. This has clearly identified a number of concrete measures that must be taken to strengthen preparedness. First, it is necessary to ensure power supply solutions – batteries and generators – for providers of critical services, particularly mobile network operators and petrol stations. Second, the Saeima should proceed as quickly as possible with the draft law on expanding protection zones around power lines, in order to provide the greatest possible protection against falling trees. Third, national roaming must be introduced, allowing residents to switch from one mobile network operator to another so they can maintain essential communications. Fourth, municipalities have a vital role to play in adapting to crisis situations and ensuring effective crisis management within their own territories,” emphasized E. Rinkēvičs following the visit. The President noted that he would discuss these issues with the Prime Minister during their meeting the following day.
