To strengthen cross-border cooperation and improve emergency response capabilities, representatives of the Zemgale Planning Region (ZPR) of Latvia, together with specialists from regional municipalities, civil protection, and emergency services, visited Joniškis, Lithuania, on February 19th for an experience exchange visit. The visit, which took place within the framework of the project “Safe Response”, provided an opportunity to learn about the Lithuanian approach to civil protection, including citizen alert systems, the organization of fire and rescue services, and crisis management and consequence elimination practices.
The “Safe Response” project unites the municipalities of Zemgale (Latvia) and Northern Lithuania, strengthening their capacity to respond effectively to risks caused by climate change. The project includes not only the exchange of knowledge and best practices through experience exchange visits, seminars, training, and information campaigns, but also the purchase of necessary equipment. This will help municipalities to be better prepared for crisis situations and ensure a rapid and effective response in critical moments.
During the visit, representatives of Joniškis municipality presented their local civil protection system and its key elements. Particular attention was paid to citizen alert mechanisms – a siren network and the online platform www.lt72.lt. This platform serves as the main source of information for actions in crisis situations, offering a shelter map with coordinates of the nearest safe places, instructions on preparedness for various threats, and practical advice on creating necessary supplies. Currently, 34 shelters are available in the municipality, 31 of which are suitable for long-term stays.
Although the Joniškis region is not exposed to flood risk due to the absence of large water bodies in the area, the municipality pays special attention to other climate risks, such as prolonged heat and strong storms, which can cause significant damage. In such cases, one of the main challenges is the disruption of electricity and communication, which hinders informing citizens and providing assistance. To ensure effective information flow even in these situations, the municipality uses cars with loudspeakers. Compensation is also available to residents for losses caused by natural disasters — for example, after the storm in August 2023, more than 100,000 euros were paid to residents from state and municipal budget funds.
Continuing the visit, participants visited the Joniškis Fire and Rescue Service station, as well as the Skaistgirys village fire station, where they learned about the equipment, duty organization, and discussed cooperation opportunities in crisis situations. The Joniškis station and six village stations are maintained with co-financing from the state and the municipality — the state provides salaries for employees, while the municipality covers the costs of infrastructure and equipment maintenance.
During the visit, Latvian and Lithuanian firefighters had a valuable opportunity to compare their experiences and discuss everyday work challenges. As Artūrs Penčura, Project Manager at ZPR, emphasizes: “The direct exchange of experience between firefighters from both countries is one of the most valuable benefits of this trip. It not only strengthens cooperation but also allows us to better prepare for joint action in emergency situations.”
At the end of the visit, participants visited Žagarė Manor, where they learned about the municipality’s experience in responding to the August 2023 storm and its consequences. Although the storm lasted only about 10 minutes, it destroyed a significant part of Žagarė Manor Park, damaging or uprooting about 2,500 trees and leaving a long-term impact on the landscape. The local community played a crucial role in the aftermath, providing significant support to the emergency services – they would not have been able to fully cope with the enormous scale of the damage alone. The municipality also allowed residents to use some of the felled trees removed from roads and other important infrastructure sites for their own needs. Finally, this experience highlighted the need for additional preventive solutions, such as underground power lines, generators for emergency situations, and more appropriate insurance solutions.
Further experience exchange is planned in the framework of the “Safe Response” project – in March, partners will travel to Wodzisław County (Wodzisław Śląski) in Poland to learn about civil protection approaches and best practices that could be applied in Latvian and Lithuanian municipalities. The visit will include meetings with crisis management specialists and emergency services, as well as a visit to the Racibórz Dolny flood control reservoir and the Buków polder to learn about solutions for flood risk reduction and crisis management. Special attention will be paid to the role of volunteer firefighters in civil protection.
By improving the cooperation between municipalities and emergency services, we can be better prepared for emergencies and respond more effectively to protect human lives and property. The Zemgale Planning Region will continue to implement the “Safe Response” project and other measures to strengthen the region’s capacity.
