When storms hit and the sky falls down, Serbia’s Ministry of Interior doesn’t just sit around! The SMS alert system was activated to save us from natural disasters and other dangers that can threaten our lives and property. But how exactly does it work? Milan Kocić, head of the operational center for emergency situations, spills all the details.
This system isn’t just the Ministry’s toy – it involves RHMZ, the Seismological Institute, SerbiaVode, VojvodinaVode, and Srbatom. Each institution assesses the danger and decides if an alert should be sent. Once the decision is made, the emergency sector verifies the info and sends it to mobile operators and media. The result? SMS messages that land straight on your phone with clear instructions on how to stay safe.
These alerts aren’t a joke – they can cover everything from storms, floods, earthquakes, fires, to radiological and nuclear incidents and hazardous materials. Yesterday, RHMZ issued a warning for stormy weather hitting Vojvodina, Belgrade, and western Serbia. Damage? Five interventions for fallen trees, three fires caused by lightning strikes, and three cases of roofs being torn off buildings.
What to do when you get such a message? Milan Kocić advises: don’t panic! Follow the instructions in the message or the link. This might mean staying indoors, evacuating, or other measures depending on the danger.
This system is here to save us, but only if we take it seriously. Next time you get an SMS alert, don’t ignore it as just another annoying message. That very message might save your life or property. Got a crazy story about how you reacted to such a message? Share it – maybe we’ll all get a laugh or learn something new!
