The Coimbra Metropolitan Region reinforced the territory’s resilience in the face of catastrophe situations and distributed satellite communication systems across the 19 municipalities.
“This need had already been identified during the passage of Storm Leslie [2018] in our territory, and it has now been possible to reinforce the Region’s communication capacity through the integrated territorial investments foreseen in PT2030”, said the Metropolitan Region of Coimbra.
Due to the proximity of Depression Kristin and the high risk of failures in conventional networks, the Metropolitan Region, in conjunction with the municipalities, brought forward the delivery of 19 satellite communication equipment.
The objective was to ensure that the Municipal Operational Coordination Centers maintained uninterrupted communication capacity, even in the event of a collapse of communications infrastructure.
According to the Metropolitan Region, the operation extended beyond the county seats “to protect the most vulnerable populations”.
“Faced with the risk of villages becoming isolated due to floods and road access cuts, the Metropolitan Region of Coimbra reinforced some municipalities with additional terminals to ensure direct connection to operations centers, guaranteeing the maintenance of communications”.
This investment allowed the Metropolitan Region of Coimbra to be “one of the only territories affected by Storm Kristin that did not require external help to guarantee the existence of a satellite internet network, which represents a sign of resilience and autonomy in critical moments”, stated the president of the Metropolitan Region of Coimbra, Helena Teodósio, cited in a press release.
For the mayors, this investment represents “a significant step in the modernization of Civil Protection in the Coimbra Region, using cutting-edge technology to mitigate the effects of serious accidents and catastrophes in the territory”.
In a second phase, this equipment will also be made available to fire departments in the Metropolitan Region of Coimbra, reinforcing the network in the territory.
Eighteen people died in Portugal following the passage of depressions Kristin, Leonardo and Marta, which also caused many hundreds of injuries and displacement.
The total or partial destruction of homes, businesses and equipment, the fall of trees and structures, the closure of roads, schools and transport services, and the cut of energy, water and communications, floods and floods are the main material consequences of the storm.
The Centre, Lisbon and Vale do Tejo and Alentejo regions were the most affected.
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