Preparedness is gearing up

On Wednesday evening last week, a civilian transport plane landed at Nuuk Airport with equipment for the Greenlandic emergency services. The delivery is the first part of the agreement that the Minister of Fisheries, Hunting, Agriculture, Self-Sustainability and Environment Peter Borg and the Danish Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Torsten Schack Pedersen signed on Monday.

The agreement includes both consultancy, personnel and equipment for the Greenlandic emergency services. On board the Danish cargo plane were, among other things, mobile tents that can function as living and accommodation facilities for up to 24 people in each tent, for example in the event of a prolonged power outage, as well as two command vehicles in the easily recognizable orange color of the Emergency Management Agency.

The agreement also includes 10 emergency power generators, but they were not included in the first delivery.

- Unfortunately, the generators will not be included in the next broadcast, explains the press officer at the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, when Sermitsiaq contacts the ministry to find out whether the generators were in use during the major power outage on Sunday night.

Education and training

In addition to the equipment, the Danish contribution includes emergency officers and a liaison officer who will be part of the strategic and operational cooperation. Education and training will also be carried out together with Greenlandic personnel in the use of the equipment.

The equipment from the Emergency Management Agency is now located at Qatserisartut Sermersooq in Nuuk, where citizens could take a closer look at the equipment during the cultural night.

The agreement with Denmark includes, in addition to equipment and personnel, advice on crisis communication, securing critical infrastructure and the introduction of the mobile-based warning system S!RENEN, which has now been used in Denmark for a few years.

- In Greenland, we have a well-functioning emergency response system, and it is very positive that with support from the Danish authorities we can further strengthen the capacity of the emergency response system. Through the cooperation with Denmark, we gain access to additional expertise, advice and equipment – without compromising our own responsibility and ownership over the emergency response area. On behalf of the Greenland Government, I would like to emphasize that we greatly appreciate Denmark's support in strengthening the emergency response system in our country, says Greenland Government Minister Peter Borg.