Saxony Needs a Boost in Civil Defense, Says Interior Minister
Severe Lack of Emergency Preparedness in Saxony - Enhancements to Civil Protection System Implemented in Saxony
Hey there! Let's chat about the current state of civil defense in Saxony, shall we?
Saxony, my friend, is lagging behind in the arena of disaster preparedness according to Saxony's interior minister, Armin Schuster. He's rightfully stressed that it's high time we catch up with the times! The federal government, responsible for civil defense, has been slacking off in terms of infrastructure for warnings, supply of the population, national reserves, and even drone defense, as Schuster points out.
You might be curious, did the new federal government give civil defense some much-needed attention? Well, it turns out, civil defense has now found a spot in the coalition agreement of the freshly minted government. Schuster, who served as president of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance from 2020 to 2022, has since shifted gears and is now the interior minister of Saxony.
So, what's the deal with public shelters in Saxony? Well, due to a lack of integration after reunification, there are no public storm shelters available, according to the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance.
The Saxon Ministry of the Interior estimates that federal states need about 10 billion euros from the federal government for civil defense over the next decade. The funds would help update legal frameworks, swiftly implement the federal equipment concept, and build up care capacities in a jiffy.
But fret not, hospitals in Free State are on point when it comes to disaster preparedness. Hospitals in the region are expected to maintain alarm and deployment plans, update them regularly, and coordinate them with the respective emergency services.
Manuela Powollik, spokesperson for the St. Georg Clinic in Leipzig, explained that they collaborate with other Leipzig clinics and the emergency services to frequently test and optimize emergency response processes. In the event of a disaster, these plans are activated within minutes, and employees are promptly informed via phone or text message. The clinic is equipped with all the necessary medical departments, which can be ready for action in a snap – think emergency room, radiology, operating room, catheter laboratory, laboratory, and intensive care unit!
- Disaster Preparedness
- Saxony
- Armin Schuster
- Hospitals
- Storm Shelters
- Leipzig
- CDU
- Coalition Agreement
- Federal Government
- Reunification
- Emergency Response
The ongoing issue of inadequate disaster preparedness in Saxony is a concern, as highlighted by Saxony's Interior Minister Armin Schuster. He emphasized the need for updates in legal frameworks and infrastructure for warnings, supply, national reserves, and drone defense, as well as the creation of public storm shelters. Interestingly, while the new federal government has included civil defense in their coalition agreement, the lack of public storm shelters in Saxony after reunification still poses a significant challenge. On a positive note, hospitals in Leipzig, such as the St. Georg Clinic, are reportedly well-prepared for disaster response, frequently testing and optimizing emergency plans, and equipped with necessary medical departments.
