The Councilor for Emergencies, Víctor Valverde, presented the department’s new equipment on Tuesday, aiming to “provide better resources to this essential service, which has proven crucial in emergency situations over the past years.” Valverde was accompanied at the presentation by the head of the Civil Protection and Emergency Group, Pepe Andúgar.
Andúgar explained that “a new aluminium boat has been acquired, allowing navigation in contaminated waters while reducing the risk of punctures.
Additionally, fifteen communication terminals have been provided to keep all volunteers connected.” The new equipment also includes “a water pump, two chainsaws (one electric and one gasoline-powered), and a thermal monocular device to assist in locating missing persons.”
Councilor Valverde said that “these materials are absolutely necessary and have been requested by the Civil Protection group and the Emergency department since the 2019 DANA storm, when we recognised the need for better equipment to ensure a more effective response with our own resources.”
He added that the acquisition of this new equipment “has only been possible now that we have an approved budget. Ultimately, all of these resources directly benefit the citisens of Orihuela, allowing us to improve our emergency response capabilities.”