Early warning had an effect: Ministry of Internal Affairs notes increased activity of population in preparing dwellings for flood period

At a press conference in the Government’s press center, Vice Minister of Internal Affairs Yuri Ilyin informed about the ongoing work with research institutions to develop comprehensive measures to prevent flood-hazardous situations.

As noted by Ilyin, from 2017, the Road Map “A Set of Measures to Prevent and Eliminate Flood Threats for 2017-2020” has been implemented. In general, the implementation of the roadmap has a positive effect on the flood situation — thanks to the preparation of settlements, flooding of settlements and residential households was prevented.

However, according to the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, there are regions that need special attention to the timing of the implementation of this roadmap. In particular, in hard-to-reach areas where there are no Kazhydromet posts, the Ministry of Internal Affairs provides equipment with high passing ability, including aviation, for timely assessment.

“The work of Kazvodhoz, Kazhydromet, the Emergency Committee should be more precise so that we identify those areas and areas that may be subject to floods or other types of emergencies,” Ilyin said.

At the same time, the deputy minister noted that every year there is an increase in the activity of the population in matters of flood safety.

“The work carried out in advance by our units to alert the population who may be in an emergency zone had its fruits. Because most of them understand the real threat and take early measures related to preparing their homes for possible floods and emergency evacuation. They prepared their main necessities in advance in case of evacuation — documents, money, and they know in advance where they can have a collection point for the population,” he noted.

The activity of the population in this direction, according to Ilyin, contributes to the fact that in the event of an emergency, the most important thing is that no human casualties are allowed, the population will be quickly evacuated to the specified places.

Ilyin also said that the Ministry of the Interior is working closely with academic institutions to develop integrated flood measures.

“These are the various institutions that the corresponding forecasts give us. In addition, we conclude memorandums in agreement with our educational institutions, which develop practical recommendations and actions in particular emergencies. They make us projects of possible risks that may arise as a result of the current situation during the breakthrough of a mudflow storage facility, as well as reservoirs located in a particular region,” the vice minister said.

According to him, the total grouping of forces of the whole unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is more than 12 thousand people and 1,300 equipment pieces. Taking into account the development of the flood threat, the ministry in advance carried out the transfer of additional forces and resources from the southern regions and the city of Nur-Sultan to the Akmola, North Kazakhstan and Pavlodar regions (81 people and 16 units of equipment).