Autumn rains and floods are recognized as a national natural disaster

Today, November 14, at an extraordinary meeting of the Crisis Management Council (CMC), several issues related to the consequences of the autumn floods throughout the territory of Latvia were discussed.

Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis, opening the extraordinary meeting of the CVP, indicated that the extraordinary CVP meeting was convened because questions and requests are regularly received regarding the damage caused to farmers by the prolonged autumn rains.

As is known, the prolonged rains throughout Latvia in recent months have had a significant impact on farmers, which is why several municipalities have requested the Cabinet of Ministers to declare an emergency situation in agriculture in their administrative territories. During the discussion at the meeting, the Cabinet of Ministers agreed that, in accordance with the Civil Protection and Disaster Management Law, the consequences of the autumn rains and floods in agriculture in the territories of the municipalities should be recognized as a national natural disaster.

At the end of August, roads, residential buildings and agricultural crops were damaged in Latgale within a few days as a result of heavy rains. Therefore, on August 29 of this year, the Cabinet of Ministers issued an order declaring a state of emergency in the administrative territories of 29 regions until November 30. Those present at the CVM meeting agreed that the Cabinet of Ministers would not be asked to make amendments to the August 29 order on the extension of the declared state of emergency, because in accordance with the Civil Protection and Disaster Management Law, the consequences of autumn rains and floods in agriculture in the regions after November 30 are defined as a national natural disaster.

Taking into account the consequences of this year's autumn rains and floods, the KVP meeting instructed the Ministry of Agriculture (MA) to continue the dialogue with the European Commission on the possibilities of compensating the losses caused to persons (farmers) affected by the regional-scale natural disaster in the territories. In addition, the present KVP council members agreed in a joint appeal to the Rural Support Service, the State Revenue Service, credit institutions and other persons in contractual relations, persons (farmers) affected by the national-scale natural disaster in the territories, which are directly related to the aforementioned floods and their consequences, not to apply penalties in case of non-fulfillment of contractual obligations.

In parallel with the CVP meeting, the Ministry of Agriculture was instructed to prepare and submit to the Cabinet of Ministers proposals on the financing necessary for the renovation and maintenance of the national melioration system. The Ministry of Agriculture was also instructed to continue negotiations with insurance providers on the improvement of the insurance system in agriculture.

Regarding the damage caused by the August rains and floods to the constructed part of the border strip along the Latvian-Russian border, the KVP instructed the Ministry of the Interior to compile information on the damage caused to the state border infrastructure by April 1, 2018 and, if necessary, prepare a draft Cabinet Order “On the allocation of financial resources from the state budget program “Funds for unforeseen events”” to cover the costs of emergency maintenance work on the state border infrastructure.

The Crisis Management Council is a coordinating institution, the purpose of which is to ensure coordinated action of state and local government institutions, taking preventive and management measures to address the threat to the state, as well as measures to eliminate its consequences. The Crisis Management Council is chaired by the Prime Minister. The members of the Crisis Management Council are the ministers of defense, foreign affairs, economy, finance, internal affairs, justice, health, transport and environmental protection and regional development. The Crisis Management Council has the right to invite officials or experts from state, local government and other institutions to the council meetings.

Source: VUGD