From the point of view of what the BG-ALERT system is as a technology, I am satisfied with its functioning, and as a software with the opportunities it gives us to warn many people. At the moment, there is no other channel with which we can reach so many people so quickly - this was said in the studio of "The Day Begins" Ch. Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov - Director of the DG "Fire Safety and Population Protection".
Like any new thing, it takes time for the institutions themselves to get used to it, the way it works and what the concept behind this system is, and for citizens to perceive BG-ALERT as a reliable source of warning. According to Dzhartov, the system should start functioning fully within a few weeks:
"The training we conducted with the regional governors and their deputies was extremely useful. All regional governors passed the training, 29 deputy regional governors were also trained. The feedback we receive from them is very good. In most cases, the system sounds like something extremely abstract, but in fact it is a pragmatic tool."
Already 223 people have undergone training to work with the BG-ALERT system, next week there will be another organized training. In addition, 7 specialists from NIMH have also undergone such training.
"The system will be activated when it is deemed necessary to use it. For example, in our country, accidents are about 50,000 per year and it is not necessary to activate the system about 50 thousand times within the year. It must be assessed from the context of each disaster whether it is necessary to use it or not", explained Chief Commissioner Dzhartov.
That is why these trainings are conducted so that the relevant institutions can know when and under what conditions they could use the system and when there is added value from it.
"The line between effective warning and creating panic is extremely thin. From the point of view of the very creation and distribution of the message, especially the distribution, the time for which this happens is extremely short - from seconds to several minutes. At the same time, reaching a decision on whether to use the system or not is extremely complicated. When such events occur, the information in the initial minutes and hours is extremely scarce and contradictory. That is, making a decision is a challenge as to what measures to take to warn the population," he explained.
In his words, BG-ALERT is one of the channels, because radio, television or sirens can also be used. There are several possibilities to reach citizens, but this depends on the information available to the relevant institutions. This process of information exchange between institutions that have data that such an event is happening, has happened or is about to happen will certainly be improved.
Measures have been prepared with the relevant activities, which are included in the plan that was submitted to the Prime Minister, and this information will reach those who make the decision more quickly, specified Chief Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov.