Interior Ministry takes preventive measures due to adverse weather forecast

Bulgaria’s Minister of Interior has ordered preventive actions in connection with the adverse weather forecast, the Ministry of Interior announced on 1st of October.

The Mediterranean cyclone from Greece was forecast to influence the weather in Bulgaria.

According to the forecast for expected intensive rainfall in the coming days, the Ministry of Interior takes preventive measures to avoid possible complication of the situation.

The head of the Chief Directorate “Fire Safety and Protection of the Population”, Chief Commissioner Nikolai Nikolov, yesterday sent letters to the regional governors asking for a review of the technical condition and for monitoring of the levels of water basins in the adjacent area. Instructions are given for taking preventive actions for cleaning and monitoring of critical points from the sewerage and road infrastructure of the settlements, as well as providing information about the relevant water bodies.

Arrangements were made for providing assistance to the local authorities, if necessary. Additional instructions were given to the territorial structures for increasing the preparedness in the event of emergencies, as well as for informing the representatives of the executive and local authorities in a timely manner. To that end, the Head of the General Directorate will visit the districts of Bourgas, Yambol and Haskovo ( South Bulgaria).

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Safe behaviour before, during, and after flooding:

- do not to panic, assess the situation and find a safe place if necessary;

- do not drive through flowing water. Attempts to rescue the vehicle are extremely dangerous, as vehicles can be swept away by only 15 cm of flowing water;

- it is mandatory to switch off power and gas supply in the homes;

- Assemble disaster supplies with dry food and clean drinking water. In case of serious floods, the use of tap water is not recommended, it is likely to be contaminated by high groundwater levels;

- important documents shoul be put at an easily accessible place;

- Prepare a Family Disaster Plan – contacts with children, family members and close friends. Make sure guidelines of local authorities and police are followed;

- Keep informed on the situation in the area you are or area you want to go;

- Do not enter underpasses, including the underground;

- If you are in the wild, it is important not to stand under bridges or to move around in gullies or other similar places where there might be a drain of water that carries trees, stones and other heavy objects that may pose danger to life.

- If you are in a public building, follow the instructions of the people in charge of the safety;

Detailed guidelines on safe behaviour in the event of floods can be found on the websites of the Directorate for fire safety and protection of the population, Ministry of interior, pojarna.com.