Civil Defense Volunteers Learnt Evacuation Organisation Skills in Jelgava

During the training, participants learned skills related to organising the evacuation of residents from flood-affected areas. The exercise also tested in practice a newly developed cooperation model between the municipality and volunteers, as well as a digital tool for volunteer registration.

To promote the involvement of Jelgava residents in civil defense (CD) processes, the Jelgava Municipality Operational Information Center (POIC) announced a call for volunteers in March to become part of the Jelgava City CD team.

Residents of the city of Jelgava who are at least 18 years old and willing to dedicate their free time to acquiring new knowledge and providing practical support in overcoming various crises are invited to apply.

“Support in preventing the consequences of floods or storms, assistance in evacuating residents, identifying vulnerable neighbours in the community, and promoting the rapid and reliable circulation of information are just some of the areas where volunteer involvement is valuable for the municipality. I encourage you not to be afraid of the responsibility associated with the CA concept. Submitting an initial application does not mean an obligation to become a volunteer — it is an opportunity to learn more about the cooperation offered. There is no set deadline for the call, so interested individuals can express their interest in participating at any time and join the Jelgava CD volunteer team,” emphasizes Ilze Āboliņa, Head of the Jelgava Digital Center.

The CREWS project addresses the growing need to strengthen disaster risk reduction (DRR) capacities in the Baltic Sea Region. By harnessing the potential of civil society, CREWS promotes the engagement of local communities and helps bridge the gap between formal institutions and informal actors in crisis situations.

The news was prepared by Jelgava Digital Center.