Government prepares official launch of new Civil Defense alert system

The federal government is preparing to officially establish the new system for sending National Civil Defense disaster alerts, according to sources from Esplanada dos Ministérios.

The tool has been undergoing a testing phase since August in 11 municipalities in the South and Southeast.

The system seeks to reduce impacts and losses from extreme weather events.

These regions will be the first to effectively rely on the new system. Afterwards, the technology must be expanded to the North, Northeast and Central-West.

A schedule was presented to the Civil House this week for the start of operation of the system.

The federal government is expected to meet with state civil defense representatives in November to define the operation.

To operate the tool, state governments need to complete training and present contingency plans.

Government members are waiting for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) to define an agenda for the launch.

The PT member had signaled that he would like to make the announcement by the G20 Summit, scheduled for next month, in Rio de Janeiro (RJ).

New system

The new system differs from the current one in that it does not require prior registration from users.

All people in a risk area will automatically receive an alert via text message, accompanied by an audible signal.

To receive alerts, your cell phone must operate in the 4G or 5G bands, which includes most devices purchased from 2020 onwards.

Currently, the system is done through SMS registration. The person enters the zip code and receives information about local weather events.

After the tragedy of the floods in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) in the first half of 2024, Lula told ministers:

  • Restructuring of civil defenses.
  • Creation of the National Civil Protection and Defense Plan.
  • Regulation of the National Fund for Public Disasters, Protection and Civil Defense (Funcap).

According to the president’s assistants, in addition to the alert system, the National Civil Protection and Defense Plan is also in the finalization phase.

The Funcap regulation and the restructuring of civil defenses still depend on adjustments between ministries.

This content was originally published in Government prepares official launch of new Civil Defense alert system on the CNN Brasil website.

Source: CNN Brasil

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