The City Council of Viseu is urging the Portuguese government to establish a long-planned national civil protection centre in the municipality. Mayor Fernando Ruas is leading the appeal and pushing for action on a proposal that has been discussed for over twenty years. The goal is to build an alternative centre to the current National Relief Operations Centre (CNOS) located in Lisbon.
This secondary centre will ensure Portugal’s emergency services can continue in case the main centre is ever compromised. Viseu was chosen as an ideal location due to its geological stability and low risk of earthquakes and making it one of the safest places in Portugal.
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Proposal For New Civil Protection Centre
The idea for this secondary centre began in January 2004 when then Minister of Internal Affairs Figueiredo Lopes introduced the plan. At the time, Lopes stressed the importance of having a backup facility because Lisbon is particularly prone to earthquakes.
Lopes said:
It has to be a kind of copy of what exists in Carnaxide, which has a nationwide operations room where all information from various sectors is received. It is a nationwide operational centre that must provide coverage of the resources and the allocation of resources
This new center in Viseu will be a copy of the existing operations hub in Carnaxide, Lisbon, and will have the same capabilities. Lopes explained that the Viseu facility will handle nationwide emergency information and resource coordination just as CNOS does now.
Lopes also pointed out that while a major disaster affecting CNOS is unlikely, it is still necessary to be prepared. He emphasized that the center must store critical documents and information that cannot be lost in an emergency.
Viseu: Perfect Location For Centre
Viseu’s selection as the location for the civil protection centre is based on its geological advantages. Unlike Lisbon and Portugal’s coastal regions, Viseu is not located near major fault lines and faces a much lower risk of seismic activity.
Fernando Ruas said:
A meeting with the Minister of Internal Affairs has already been scheduled. We are going to raise the issue of the alternative civil protection centre again considering that there is no way this impasse can continue
According to Mayor Ruas, Viseu is fully prepared to host the facility and has land ready for construction. In a recent interview, Ruas explained that Viseu’s location makes it a logical choice for a backup centre and he urged the government to prioritize this project without further delays.
The mayor has scheduled a meeting with the current Minister of Internal Administration to discuss the project. He aims to resolve the impasse and make progress on this longstanding proposal.
Viseu also has the necessary infrastructure to support such a facility which includes strong road networks and reliable communication systems that will allow emergency responders to access the centre quickly from different parts of Portugal.
Backup Civil Protection Centre Importance
A secondary civil protection centre is more than a precaution. It is a strategic measure to enhance Portugal’s security. If a disaster affects Lisbon and the primary centre becomes unusable, Viseu’s centre will ensure emergency services continue without delay.
This backup facility will act as an operations base for various agencies, including firefighters, medical teams, and civil defense personnel and will help them respond quickly to any major crisis.
The centre will also provide a secure location for crucial records, maps and documents that are essential for managing emergencies. In the case of a disaster, losing these resources could greatly hinder response efforts leading to more severe consequences. The government will protect these assets and strengthen Portugal’s ability to respond to emergencies by establishing this centre in Viseu,
Next Steps And Government Support
Mayor Ruas hopes to gain the current administration’s support during his upcoming meeting. He and the Viseu City Council want a clear timeline and resolution to any obstacles preventing the project’s launch.
In making this appeal, Viseu’s leaders also recognize that Portugal’s current reliance on a single operations centre poses a risk. They believe distributing resources and creating backup plans is essential to ensure national safety as emergencies become more unpredictable
The Viseu community is ready to support the project and hopes the government will prioritize it. Local residents believe this centre will improve Portugal’s disaster readiness and protect not only Lisbon but also the entire country. They see this initiative as a step towards better safety and preparedness for Portugal as a whole.
