In one of the rooms of the departmental headquarters of Saint-Julien-lès-Metz, Wednesday October 23, we witness a funny scene. Elected officials of the territory are seated in front of a map and play at scaring each other… On it, numerous risks which show the potential technological, societal and nuclear crises that they may have to manage with the installation of a power plant. nuclear power plant nearby but also the presence of water points and hydraulic dams nearby which could lead to heavy flooding, among other things.
This crisis is still fresh in the minds of many of them, the last known floods in the east and north of the Moselle only date back to last May. Complicated days which will return – everyone is well aware of this – in an increasingly critical climatological context. 39 elected officials and territorial executives therefore did not hesitate to respond favorably to the invitation from the Fire and Rescue Department (Sdis) to participate in an awareness day. All coming from municipalities identified as most at risk in Moselle.
Among them, there is Véronique Schmit, first deputy to the City of Thionville and regional councilor. Usually her field is more youth and sport but she knows the stakes behind this training, hence her desire to take part. “How do municipalities react in times of crisis? It’s a subject that you need to understand as an elected official.”she admits, recalling that in Thionville, there is “a municipal citizen reserve made up of around fifty people ready to intervene quickly in the event of an exceptional sequence”. The second city of Moselle is also the only one to have a reserve even if others have also taken steps in this direction.
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And that's good because that's the whole objective of this day initiated by the Moselle Fire Brigade in conjunction with the prefecture services: to make it clear that “People are the key to success. We must create a synergy between elected officials, the population, the emergency services and the State services because it is together that we manage to create a dynamic where we bring in the right skills at the right time”begins Colonel Jérôme Boulanger. For him, there is no miracle solution but “what is certain is that we have to anticipate things.”
In place for around ten years, the training has been strengthened in recent years. A small feature for this session is that it is taught by trainers from the National School of Fire Officers based in Aix-en-Provence. A first for the Department. An action which is in addition to other forms of support provided by firefighters to communities. They are also present to help develop the municipal or intercommunal safeguard plan which aims to identify all the means available in a territory to react in times of crisis. Support which is not as extensive everywhere in France. “There is real political will from the Department”supports the colonel. As proof, Moselle is a pioneer in the field.
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