This is foreseen in the cooperation agreement approved by the Ministry of the Interior on Wednesday, signed by the Minister of the Interior Agnė Bilotaitė, Director of the Fire Protection and Rescue Department (PAGD) Saulius Greičius and the Chairman of the Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Gintaras Grušas.
“I am very happy that today we signed an agreement with the Lithuanian bishops’ conference and one of the largest communities in Lithuania is joining us, that is the Catholic community. It is important to have greater dissemination, to work with different communities”, said A. Bilotaitė after the signing.
The minister also noted that there was cooperation with the Catholic Church even before the signing of the contract, but emphasized that she saw the potential to expand the network of shelters by installing sirens.
The agreement also envisages providing the residents with more information about preparedness for possible threats, strengthening the culture of self-defense.
As the ministry announces, PAGD officials have repeatedly shared practical information in specially equipped tents on how to act in emergency situations, how to put together a departure bag, prepare a family plan and protect yourself and your loved ones in specially equipped tents during the great Catholic indulgences. This activity will be continued during well-attended church events.
“Also, through cooperation, it is planned to look for opportunities to install shelters in suitable buildings of religious purpose, which would provide conditions for residents to avoid life or health threats in the event of a weather hazard,” the report states.
Shelters – in ten churches, sirens will be installed
S. Greičius noted that currently there are already ten churches that are marked as shelters, most of them – five – in the Klaipėda region, but the director of PAGD noticed that it is difficult to say how intensively the marking of churches with a shelter sign will continue.
At that time, the head of the PAGD Civil Protection Board, Edgaras Geda, said that there were no sirens on the country’s church belfries, but their installation would begin.
G. Grušas noted that civil safety issues will be presented through indulgences, events, and online networks.
“Mass is not the main place where we will spread that message. We have our own communication channels. It has already been mentioned about the Žoliniai indulgences, where many people gather. We have various events with both the PAGD and the police, and we are informed through them,” said the chairman.
With the consent of the local ordinary, the buildings and infrastructure belonging to the church could be used for the installation of warning sirens and the development of their network in Lithuania.
Currently, the network of warning sirens in Lithuania consists of 927 sirens. Some of the 197 new sirens purchased by PAGD as part of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism project have already been installed in the municipalities.
According to the latest data, municipalities have selected 2.5 thousand. shelters, which could accommodate over 800 thousand population (28%). The Ministry of the Interior has set the goal that 60 percent of the city municipalities residents would be guaranteed a place in a shelter, in district municipalities – 40 percent.
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#church #cooperate #state #educating #population #civil #safety #issues
**Interview with Agnė Bilotaitė, Lithuanian Minister of the Interior**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Minister Bilotaitė. You recently signed a very significant cooperation agreement with the Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference. Can you tell us what this agreement entails and its significance?
**Minister Bilotaitė:** Thank you for having me. This agreement marks a milestone in our effort to enhance public safety by collaborating with one of the largest communities in Lithuania—the Catholic Church. It’s not only about sharing resources but also about creating a network of support. We’re planning to expand our shelters and install sirens in churches to make them safe havens during emergencies.
**Editor:** You mentioned the installation of sirens and shelters. How many churches will be designated as shelters, and what does this process look like?
**Minister Bilotaitė:** Currently, we have ten churches designated as shelters, primarily in the Klaipėda region. The marking of these churches will continue, but we’re also assessing the suitability of various religious buildings across the country. The idea is to ensure that communities have safe places to go in case of any threats, including extreme weather events.
**Editor:** There seems to be an educational component to this agreement as well. Can you elaborate on that?
**Minister Bilotaitė:** Absolutely. Alongside the physical preparations, we’re aiming to improve the public’s preparedness for emergencies. This includes sharing information about personal safety, how to assemble a departure bag, and developing family emergency plans. Our teams have already been present at major church events to deliver this crucial information, and we plan to continue this initiative.
**Editor:** Archbishop Grušas mentioned using church events and online networks to disseminate civil safety information. How do you envision this collaboration enhancing public awareness?
**Minister Bilotaitė:** By incorporating safety discussions into church events, we can reach a broader audience. It’s essential to make people aware that safety is a shared responsibility, and churches can play a pivotal role in fostering this culture. We want to make sure that everyone understands the steps they can take to protect themselves and their loved ones.
**Editor:** Thank you, Minister Bilotaitė. Your commitment to integrating community support with public safety initiatives is commendable. We look forward to seeing the positive impacts of this collaboration.
**Minister Bilotaitė:** Thank you! Together, we hope to build a more resilient society.
