The Government will this week
distribute to all households in Gibraltar a booklet entitled
“Gibraltar Major Incident or Emergency Advisory Booklet”.
This booklet, which is similar to
those issued to their citizens by the UK and other European
Governments offers basic advice on what people should do in the
event of a major incident or emergency whether it be an accident,
natural disaster or other type of incident, such as a terrorist
attack.
Even though Gibraltar is a relatively
safe place, emergency incidents could happen anywhere. The
Government has drawn up response plans for all reasonably
foreseeable types of incidents.
This booklet is just for public
awareness. No-one should be alarmed by the issue or receipt of this
booklet. It is not published because someone thinks or has
information that something is going to happen in Gibraltar. It
simply reflects and responds to a greater public awareness of risk
and a desire to be as well informed as possible.
The booklet outlines advice on
precautions which should be taken in the event of any major
emergency or incident. Most of the advice given in the booklet will
also be useful to any Gibraltar resident that may be caught up in a
major incident abroad.
Copies of the booklet in English will
be distributed towards the end of this week to all households in
Gibraltar. The text will also be available on the Government website
at www.gibraltar.gov.gi
Several thousand copies have also been
produced in Spanish and will be available on application at No6
Convent Place during normal working hours.
Commenting on this, Chief Minister
Peter Caruana said: -
“The Government has, during the last
5 years, substantially upgraded Gibraltar’s response capability for
major incidents. These include the establishment of a Civil
Contingencies Committee; the appointment of Civil Contingencies Co-Ordinator;
the drawing up of response plans for the different reasonably
foreseeable types of incidents; the establishment of a well-equipped
“command and control” facility in the basement of No6 Convent Place
and the acquisition of equipment. The issue of this advisory booklet
is another further development in this important area.
Simply receiving this booklet at home may cause alarm to some
elderly persons who may worry that it must mean that something bad
is going to happen. If you have elderly relatives at home, or,
perhaps more importantly, living alone, please forewarn them that
they will receive this booklet and so put their minds at rest.”
