Archives: Situation Reports

Safe Communities Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 23rd October 2024

Good morning everyone: We start with a reminder that the A Terra Treme Earthquake awareness exercise coinciding with Tsunami Day will take place on 5th November 2024. The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) promotes the national seismic risk awareness exercise, which Safe Communities Portugal has supported in a number of ways.

This initiative is part of the activities that form part of the National Strategy for Preventive Civil Protection and aims to empower the population to know how to act before, during and after an earthquake, sensitizing citizens to the fact of living in a risk society, and challenging themselves o to get involved in the process of building safer and more resilient communities.

The exercise comprises the practice of 3 simple gestures that can make a difference to those who practice them in the face of an earthquake. The action takes place during one (1) minute, in which the participants, individually or collectively, are invited to perform the 3 self-protection gestures: DROP, COVER, HOLD. Everyone can and should participate: individually or in groups, wherever they are. It is important that everyone is aware of what to do in the event of an earthquake so please help promote it and register here.

A reminder of the law concerning the burning of cut and piled waste. From 1st June to 31st October: Regardless of fire risk in the municipality concerned i.e. Low, Moderate, High, Very high or maximum, “Authorization is required. Initial status reported: Pending awaiting Council decision. Post-decision states reported: “Authorized” or “Unauthorized”. However, some municipalities have imposed a blanket ban regardless of risk up to 31st October.

From 1st November to 31st May: Low, Moderate or HIGH fire risk: Requests are made in the form of prior communication (does not require a decision process) Status reported: “Meets conditions” https://fogos.icnf.pt/InfoQueimasQueimadas/ Very High or Maximum fire risk “Authorization is required. Initial status reported: Pending awaiting Council decision. Post-decision states reported: “Authorized” or “Unauthorized”.

Ensure that if you are burning cut and piled waste all the safety conditions are complied with. If no prior communication is made or the fire is not authorised this can result in a very heavy fine.

Some information, following the news about an ICNF worker dying after a wasp sting. The man died after going into cardiorespiratory arrest, whilst on duty in the north of Portugal

Asian hornet first appeared in Europe in France in 2004. Six years later their presence was confirmed in Spain. In 2011 it appeared in Portugal. In just over a decade, the Asian hornet occupied a large part of mainland Portugal, with thousands of insects flying across the country.  Like other wasps, their life cycle is annual and begins in spring, when the young queen wakes up from hibernation, hidden away from bad weather but outside the nest, in trees, on the ground or in rock crevices.

Generally, an Asian hornet sting causes only a local reaction, with pain, itching, redness and swelling at the site of the sting.  People however with a history of allergic reactions, a severe allergic reaction – anaphylaxis – the symptoms appear a few minutes after the bite and have varying degrees of severity. Whenever an Asian wasp nest is detected, the municipal civil protection services should be contacted;

Or Contact with GNR | SOS Environment line | 808 200 520;

On Monday Safe Communities held our General meeting with a turnout of 14 members which was very good for an organisation of our size. There were no changes in the composition off the management team of Fiscal Council. An excellent opportunity for people to get together with members on-line from the Azores and Canada. Apart from routine business we discussed our activities over the last year and some of our plans for the future. We also discussed some of the results of our recent Preparedness for Natural Hazards survey which we will publish survey.

Lastly please be aware that the police are cracking down on drivers using mobile phones whilst driving. Last week alone the GNR caught near 700 so be aware!

Our team wishes you a safe week ahead

News

Nelas municipality with losses of over 1.5 million euros

The municipality of Nelas recorded losses of over 1.5 million euros in the agricultural sector and municipal equipment due to the fires in September, the Mayor revealed today.

“We are talking about almost 1.53 million euros. Of these, almost 700,000 euros in municipal equipment and infrastructure”, said the president, Joaquim Amaral.

The total losses also include more than 500 thousand euros relating to small farmers, a figure that has not yet been finalised, and almost 350 thousand euros relate to the Mining Development Company (EDM).

Among the municipal facilities, the president said that Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) and pumping stations were seriously affected, as well as a football stadium in Vale de Madeiros, among other facilities.

With a total of 2,305 hectares of burnt area, “mostly forest land, followed by agricultural land”, the president specified that the fire destroyed “essentially vineyards, olive groves and agricultural land of the family subsistence economy”, with “some small and medium-sized enterprises”.

“Mainly elderly people, but we are also talking about many young people with businesses in areas such as pig farming, rabbit farming, poultry farming, winemaking and the raising of sheep and goats to produce the milk used in the manufacture of Serra da Estrela cheese”, he said.

In the municipality of Nelas, the flames consumed a house in the parish of Senhorim, which, according to the mayor, is identified as being a first home, but did not reach any businesses.

“Although the fire was close to all business areas, particularly the two in Nelas and Canas de Senhorim, fortunately it was possible to control it,” he said.

However, he added, indirect impacts may be assessed, caused “by the intense heat, which may have influenced products and equipment”.

Nine people died and more than 170 were injured as a result of the fires that hit last week, mainly in the North and Center regions of Portugal.

Between September 15 and 20, forest fires consumed around 135,000 hectares, bringing the total area burned in Portugal this year to almost 147,000 hectares.

Black Friday: Portuguese people are expected to spend an average of around 300 euros, more than last year

This year, more Portuguese people are interested in shopping on Black Friday. Fashion continues to be the most sought-after category. Travel appears for the first time in the top 5 of purchasing intentions.

This year, the Portuguese are expected to spend more money on Black Friday. On average, most people plan to spend 311 euros. In total, the turnover in Portugal will be between 130 and 140 million euros.

The tradition is North American, but Black Friday has already become a habit in Portugal. Brands from different sectors offer promotions.

There are more Portuguese people interested than last year. The week before or the week of the event, they want to “go” to Black Friday to take advantage of the special discounts. The opportunities are transversal to many categories, but fashion, which includes clothing, footwear and accessories, continues to be the most sought after.

The annual study by blackfriday.pt, an international start up dedicated to Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions in Portugal, reveals the predictions for Black Friday week: 130 to 140 million this year.

The study was carried out between October 7 and 12 and included 428 participants, aged between 18 and 74.

74% of respondents intend to take advantage of promotions, which represents a slight increase compared to 2023.

The purchases will be made mainly by women and the majority of buyers are from the

How much will the Portuguese spend?

The majority of Portuguese people (71%) plan to spend an average of 311 euros, an increase of 7% compared to the previous year, when they spent 290 euros.

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 16th October 2024

Good afternoon. This week we commemorate all those who lost their lives in the October 2017 rural fires. In just over 24 hours there were over 500 fires in 40 municipalities in the Centre and North region on mainland Portugal. 51 people died. In addition nearly 1,500 homes and 500 businesses were damaged or destroyed and 290,000 hectares of forest burned.

The independent technical commission created by the Assembly of the Republic to analyse what happened concluded that the fires of October 2017 were an unprecedented phenomenon, resulting from the combination of meteorological factors. Still, the report pointed out several shortcomings: it failed to “forecast and schedule” the ability to “minimize the extent” of fires in the face of weather forecasts of high temperatures and wind.

Just a day before the fires the President of the Republic had spoken about the findings of the report into the Pedrogão Grande fire in June (where 66 had died and 204 injured). Just prior to the October fires the IPMA had issued orange warnings due to the approach of Hurricane Ophelia with associated high temperatures. The warnings were there.

Many lessons have been learned from these terrible events with so many lives lost, homes destroyed and businesses and livelihoods lost. Many actions have been put in place and still to be completed to prevent similar tragedies, with an increased emphasis on prevention and self-protection.

From fire to floods. There is little doubt that October has been a very wet month. In terms of percentage distribution by classes of the PDSI index on the continent, at the end of September it was found: 1.5% in the moderate rain class, 4.8% in the light rain class, 24.2% in the normal class, 23.3% in the weak drought class, 32.4% in the moderate drought class and 13.6% in the severe drought class.  The moderate and severe drought class affects the southern half of the mainland, although with the rains this month in the south this should improve the situation.

The cause of much of the bad weather has been the depressions mainly forming in the Atlantic and the remnants of various hurricanes such as the remnants of Hurricane Milton that merged with Tropical Storm Leslie. IPMA yellow and orange warnings have been issued as well as ANEPC with preventive measures. It is important that everyone reads these in order to help protect themselves as well as their property. The warnings are issued in respect of the weather forecasts.

These forecasts are based on various models. Given the nature of precipitation this does not mean that it will be continuous in districts where a warning has been issued say an orange warning. Showers imply the weather will change a lot during the day with rain on and off, whereas rain will bring continuous wet weather for hours at a time, and then it will clear. Where it states “showers which may be heavy at times”, it means exactly that. It is quite hit and miss where they occur, and this means that you could get heavy showers on and off through the day, whereas in the next town their weather stays dry all day

The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) annually promotes the nationwide Public Exercise to Raise Awareness of Seismic Risk, called A TERRA TREME (www.aterratreme.pt). https://www.aterratreme.pt/o-exercicio/

This year, the 12th Edition will take place on 5th November, at 11:05 hrs, coinciding with World Tsunami Awareness Day.

The objective of this exercise is to train the population to know how to act before, during and after an earthquake namely to know the preventive measures and self-protection behaviours to adopt to protect themselves. There will be more on this as we approach the date. We encourage everyone to participate.

With that our team wishes you all a safe week ahead.

News

MAI considers video surveillance an asset to prevent crime in Porto

The Ministry of Internal Affairs today considered video surveillance to be an added value for preventing and combating crime in Porto, but warned of the need for a balance between promoting security and respecting freedoms.

A few hours after the announcement that the Government had given authorization to the municipality of Porto to proceed with the expansion of video surveillance, the order was published in the Official Gazette.

“Video surveillance systems are an added value in preventing and combating crime and in promoting collective security and this is an inescapable fact in the municipality of Porto”, reads the order signed by the Secretary of State for Internal Administration, Telmo Correia.

Despite the importance of these systems, the Ministry warns that their implementation must “always follow best practices and a balance” between promoting security and respecting citizens’ rights and freedoms.

In this sense, the authorization for the expansion of the system requires compliance with several conditions, some of which had already been highlighted by the National Data Protection Commission (CNPD) in the two opinions it issued in this regard.

“The video surveillance system must be operated in such a way as to guarantee the effective safeguarding of privacy and security, fully complying with the applicable legal provisions and the recommendations made”, it indicates.

In the ruling, the supervisory authority also states that it is up to the PSP, in conjunction with other public entities, to ensure compliance with the CNPD’s recommendations, especially with regard to technical and monitoring issues, such as the need for the system to contain means of alerting in the event of unauthorized access attempts.

The 117 cameras, to be installed on streets in the Asprela, Campanhã, Estádio do Dragão, Pasteleira and Diogo Botelho areas, will join the 79 cameras that began operating on June 22, 2023 in the city center and which have already preserved images relating to 910 criminal proceedings.

PORTUGAL SAFETY AND SECURITY REPORT WEDNESDAY 9^TH OCTOBER 2024

Good morning. October is the European Cybersecurity Month (ECSM), with the theme “Think Before U Click”. This is the European Union’s annual campaign dedicated to promoting cybersecurity among EU citizens and organisations, and to providing up-to-date online security information through awareness raising and sharing of good practices.

Each year, for the entire month of October, hundreds of activities take place across Europe, including conferences, workshops, trainings, webinars, presentations and more, to promote digital security and cyber hygiene. This is important as on line crime continues to increase and Portugal is not immune to this.

In 2023 the attacks with the greatest impact were ‘ransomware’ and affected local public administration, although it was not identified which local authorities or entities were affected. Local public administration suffered attacks with “more impact”, but the most frequent victims were individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), targeted by ‘phishing’, ‘smishing’ and other scams. In numbers, the national computer security incident response team CERT.PT) recorded 2,025 cybersecurity incidents (two more than in 2022), with an increase in private entities.

The brands most simulated in ‘phishing’ and ‘smishing’ attacks were banking (37%), email and other services (31%) and transport and logistics (20%). Among cybercrimes, but not included in the Cybercrime Law, “computer/communications fraud continues to stand out, with 20,159 records by the police authorities in 2023, although 4% less than in the previous year”. We will be highlighting during the month ways in wish you can reduce the risk of such attacks, through simple measures such as using strong passwords and Two-factor authentication (2FA).

As you have seen there has been a frequent weather updates on hurricane activity in the Atlantic and their possible effect on mainland Europe. In May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted 2024 would bring “above-normal” hurricane activity, with 17 to 25 named storms, eight to 13 hurricanes and four to seven major hurricanes of Category 3 strength and above. The pre-season forecasts based in part on record warm waters in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, which can help fuel the formation of storms, and the expected return of La Niña, which is associated with more activity in the Atlantic.

An average season, according storm data collected by the NOAA from 1991 to 2020, churns out 14 named storms, including seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. The most active Atlantic seasons in history include 2020, which holds the record for producing a whopping 30 named storms, and 2005, which holds the record for 15 hurricanes. As of Oct. 3, 12 named storms had formed in 2024, including seven that reached hurricane status and three that strengthened into major hurricanes. The latest is Hurricane Milton in the Gulf of Mexico, which is forecast to cross Florida today and head in an easterly direction into the Atlantic.

So far there has been little damage in the Azores although winds at Morro Alto station Flores Island recorded a gust of 177.5 km/h on Monday. Only three occurrences reported concerning: “a fallen tree in Angra do Heroísmo, on Terceira Island, damage to an electricity pole in Horta, on Faial Island and damage to a structure in Santa Cruz das Flores”.

With warnings in place it is important to follow the advice of IPMA, Maritime Authority and Civil Protection to avoid getting close to coastlines. Keep yourself and others safe by following these simple steps: check the forecasts and tides in your local area; beware of large waves, even from the shore large breaking waves can sweep you off your feet and out to sea; take care if walking near cliffs – know your route and keep dogs on a lead and avoid walks along the sea edge or in areas exposed to rough seas, such as the protective breakwaters of ports, cliffs or beaches, to avoid being surprised by a wave.

Our team wishes you a safe week ahead

News

UK – Man who works for a WiFi company arrested after train passengers receive Islamophobic messages

People on trains at Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street and 11 stations in London are among those targeted in the attack.

A man has been arrested after train passengers at some of the country’s biggest rail stations have been hit by a “cyber security incident” which saw them exposed to Islamophobic messages.

Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street and 11 stations in London were affected by the cyberattack on Wednesday.

The man is an employee of Global Reach Technology, which provides some WiFi services to Network Rail, British Transport Police said after an investigation. He has been arrested on suspicion of offences under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and offences under the Malicious Communications Act 1998.

Passengers trying to log on to public WiFi at the Network Railway-managed stations were targeted with the Islamophobic message.

The message sent out in place of the WiFi login page, which has been seen by Sky News, contained a passage referring to a UK terror attack.

“Insider threats pose a significant risk to critical national infrastructure because they come from people who have legitimate access to sensitive systems and data,” Rick Goud, chief information officer at cyber security firm Zivver, said.

“Unlike external hackers who have to bypass security measures, insiders are already on the ‘inside’ of the defences.

Safe Communities Portugal Safety and Security Report 2^nd October 2024

Good morning everyone. In the last three months, the rural fire-fighting system was at its maximum capacity, with 13,891 operatives, 3,084 teams, 2,990 vehicles and 72 aerial resources on standby, an increase in resources compared to the previous year.

This was a very busy period especially towards the end with many fires especially in the centre and north reaching a peak of around 450 fires on one single day with a deployment of over 5000 operatives. It was also a tragic period with the loss of five GNR soldiers in a helicopter accident and later the death of four fire fighters. Total land area burned was over 130,000 hectares taking the total to 147,000 hectares for the year. Fires also broke out in the Madeira burning for around 8 days and requiring the assistance of Canadair firefighting aircraft from Spain.

With the end of what was known as the critical period the National Operational Directive (DON), which establishes the Special Device for Combating Rural Fires (DECIR), indicates that from yesterday onwards, resources were reduced, with 12,284 operatives, 2,749 teams, 2,651 vehicles and 61 aerial resources on standby on the ground until October 15. However, and in addition to the device already provided for in the DECIR for this phase, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) guarantees that the device will be reinforced in the event that weather conditions worsen the risk of rural fires.

It should be remembered that it was in mid-October 2017 that the major fires broke out mainly in the centre of Portugal costing the lives of over 40 persons. There is nothing to indicate that weather forecast and fire risk for October this year will be comparable to what it was in the same period of 2017

As a precaution however his year’s DECIR foresees the mobilization of additional resources to respond to more serious situations, with up to 20,000 operatives being able to be mobilized, until the end of October.

From fire to possible floods – the new hydrological year begins on October 1st, so it is important to be prepared for the precipitation that marks autumn by adopting prevention and self-protection measures. The need to mitigate the risks associated with possible periods of precipitation, which could be strong and prolonged, the intensification of the wind and the worsening of sea unrest, imply the early taking of collective and individual preparation measures.

The main causes of minor floods are obstructions to the circulation and regular drainage of rainwater. This can be due to: materials accumulated at the mouths of drainage systems; blockage of roadside water channels; the abandonment of waste from agricultural, forestry and inert material extraction activities, along communication routes and within water courses.

Vegetation is crucial for slope stability as it offers root support, regulates water content, and protects the soil surface. Fires can lead to slope failure by destroying vegetation, weakening root systems, and altering soil structure. Rainfall, especially intense rainfall, following fires in burned areas can therefore result in landslides and “loose objects may be dragged onto roads.

These risks can be increased when major fires occur very close to the beginning of the hydrological year and start of rainfall – as was the case this year.

The immediate or direct threats of a forest fire are the loss of human lives, partial or total destruction of private property, damage to infrastructures and loss of natural resources. However, after a forest fire, changes in vegetation, surface coverage conditions and/or hydrological processes can increase the probability and consequences of slope instability phenomena which can affect the areas in front or above the slopes long after forest fire extinction.

Be aware and prepared especially if you live at either the bottom or top of a slope that has recently subjected to rural fires. Safe Communities has prepared a feature on this topic for the Portugal Resident which will be published tomorrow 3^rd October.

Our team at Safe Communities wish you a safe week ahead

News

Fighting fires. State air resources will only be fully available after 2030

The first helicopters purchased by the PS Government are currently on hold due to a lack of pilot training and aircraft qualification and certification, which are essential for operations on the ground.

The Government announced in June the State’s aerial resource plan for fighting fires, but the device is only expected to be available in force after 2030. Until then, the State will have to continue to resort to the allocation of aircraft and the help of the European Civil Protection mechanism.

In total, 11 aerial resources are planned in addition to the two Koalas that have been in action since May as part of the Special Device for Combating Rural Fires (DECIR).

In addition to the two Black Hawk helicopters, which arrived this year, seven more are contracted to be delivered by 2025 and 2026, as well as two Canadair’s, scheduled to arrive in 2029 and 2030.

According to information provided by the Air Force to Renascença, the first two Black Hawks, which arrived in 2024, will only have completed the qualification, training and certification phase in two years, if everything goes as expected.

“Currently, the crew qualification and training phase and aircraft certification are underway, which is expected to be completed in 2026”, says the Air Force, adding, “the process faces insurmountable phases in order to guarantee safety and the full fulfilment of one of the most demanding and dangerous missions”.

Those arriving in 2025 will only be ready to go into the field from 2027 onwards, while the Canadairs will enter into action even later.

Duarte Caldeira, from the Centre for Studies and Intervention in Civil Protection, warns of this risk: “Since we are at the end of 2024, we can only expect to have air resources planned for 2027 or later. Only then can we count on air resources for the mission. Pilot training and certification must be taken into account. This is an entire process that is mandatory.”

“Until then, what we will continue to have, in addition to the Koalas, is the rental of resources to meet the needs of aerial intervention to combat forest fires”.

Portugal – 2024/25 Hydrological Year started yesterday

A hydrological year is between 1st October and 30th September of the following year.

The hydrological year 2023/24 in mainland has officially finished but we don’t have final numbers available, only the preliminary till the end of July 2024.

The value of the average accumulated precipitation until the end of July, in the hydrological year 2023/2024, is 934.4 mm, corresponds to 119% of the normal value for 1981-2010. The average accumulated precipitation in this hydrological year remains higher than the 1981-2010 average value and the previous year, with a difference of around + 151 mm.

The values of the average accumulated precipitation in the hydrological year 2023/2024 are higher than normal throughout the North region and part of the Central region.

In some places in the district of Castelo Branco, in the Tejo valley (some places in the districts of Lisbon and Setúbal) and in a large part of south Alentejo and Algarve, the accumulated values in the hydrological year are lower than the normal value.