How does information flow within the village and between the village and the authorities during a long-lasting power outage? How and by whom do villagers quickly get domestic water during a water outage? Who coordinates the village's own security measures? These questions, among others, were discussed in a discussion between the villages of Ilmajoki and various security actors at the Pojanluoman Society on April 23.
Representatives from the rescue service, the protection unit, the municipality, the parish and Vapepa participated in the village evening. Almost all the villages in Ilmajoki were present. Through active discussion, good preparedness ideas emerged, such as mapping clean wells in the village and purchasing a village radio to ensure communication in the event of a power outage.
– The flow of information is one of the most important things in a disruption situation, stated the mayor of Ilmajoki Ari-Pekka Laitalainen.
The presentation of the village radio aroused the interest of the participants and Telle Lemetyinen Liiveristän told about the possibility of applying for project funding for the security investments needed by villages.
The importance of personal preparedness is emphasized in villages
In rural areas, official assistance is further away, so the importance of one's own preparedness is emphasized. The meeting, together with villages and security actors, considered the roles of different parties in disruption situations and how villages themselves can better anticipate exceptional situations.
To organize the village's own security measures, discussions were held about establishing village-specific village security teams, so that both villagers and authorities would always know who to contact in case of disturbances.
– The village security team would speed up the rescue service's ability to contact the village in an emergency, the fire chief responsible for preparedness at the South Ostrobothnia Rescue Service Juha Turkulainen
Liiver wants to support the establishment of village safety teams by offering emergency first aid training to those who are interested.
– According to the feedback, there was new impetus for safety issues and further actions were considered, which is not only a source of joy for active participation but also a sign that the evening's goal has been met, says the person leading the village safety project in Liiveri. Mari Viljanmaa.
From village hall to emergency center
The safety work of the villages also continues in other areas of Liiveri and the entire South Ostrobothnia region, including the Village Emergency Response Team. Village Emergency Response Team is a national concept developed by Finnish villages, in which the level of equipment and functionality of village houses is surveyed and the suitability of the buildings and possible additional equipment to function as a preparedness center are considered with the villagers.
The village safety evening was part of the 4K – Capable and Sustainable Partner Villages project, managed by Leader Liiver and funded by the Ely Centre.