Flemish Government Establishes Volunteer Corps for Emergency Response
In an effort to enhance emergency preparedness amid climate change and geopolitical challenges, the Flemish government has launched a program to create municipal volunteer corps across the region. reports 24brussels.
Before the summer recess, the government allocated funding to train 80 volunteers in each local unit, aimed at bolstering support for professional emergency services.
Volunteers will receive training for various crisis situations, including searching for missing persons, sandbagging during floods, and distributing iodine tablets in nuclear emergencies.
“In every crisis there are citizens ready to lend a hand.”
“In every crisis, whether it’s floods, heatwaves, or power outages in care homes, there are citizens ready to lend a hand,” stated Hilde Crevits, the Interior Minister of CD&V, in an interview with De Standaard. “We want to encourage this kind of voluntary help and make it scalable for large-scale emergencies.”
Critical Role
The initiative emphasizes the crucial role that trained civilians can play during emergencies. “By doing so, we improve our readiness at both the individual and community levels,” added Crevits’ office. Currently, 34 municipalities have agreed to participate, with training set to begin in September.
The Red Cross Flanders will oversee the coordination and training of these volunteer units. Individuals aged 16 and older can apply, receiving foundational first-aid training and annual refresher courses, along with engaging in simulated emergency drills.
“Mayors will retain full control over the deployment of their local units.”
The activation of volunteer corps will be managed by local authorities rather than the regional government. “Mayors will retain full control over the deployment of their local units,” confirmed Crevits’ cabinet.
Tool for Registry
Alongside organised corps, spontaneous volunteers will continue to be welcome during emergencies. A new app is being developed to allow these ad hoc helpers to register quickly and securely, providing them with necessary instructions while ensuring their personal data is deleted after each incident.
At the federal level, the BE-Alert system appears to be underutilized. Despite being in operation since 2017, reports indicate that registration numbers for the government’s national emergency notification platform remain disappointingly low.
BE-Alert allows local and national authorities to send emergency alerts to residents through text messages, emails, or phone calls in the event of flooding, fires, or power outages. In some instances, alerts also appear on digital billboards. To date, over 1.25 million addresses have been registered, encompassing 93 percent of municipalities.
