Prime minister seeks faster plans for future natural disasters

Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius has asked two ministries and the National Crisis Management Centre to submit proposals within two weeks on strengthening preparedness for future natural disasters, LRT reported.

Speaking at a government meeting on Wednesday, Sinkevičius requested both strategic proposals that would require funding and short term measures that could be implemented more quickly. He also called for company executives and representatives to be involved in the process.

“The modern world is still unable to control natural disasters and probably never will be. But we must strengthen our preparedness for them and for various emergency situations, and be better prepared than we have been so far,” Sinkevičius said.

The prime minister also instructed the energy minister to ensure that additional compensation for residents affected by electricity outages is provided as simply as possible.

He said the process should not be complicated, particularly for older people, and that the public should receive clear explanations and concrete examples of what can be purchased. He also asked officials to personally test the process from the customer’s perspective.

Energy distribution company Energijos skirstymo operatorius, known as ESO, has said it will compensate residents for losses if electricity is not restored within 72 hours.

Under the simplified procedure, compensation for directly incurred losses can total up to 220 euros. The limits include up to 60 euros for spoiled food, up to 40 euros per day for buying or renting a generator, up to 90 euros for generator fuel and up to 60 euros for accommodation when residents had to stay elsewhere temporarily.

ESO estimates that an average customer whose electricity was not restored within three days will receive a fixed compensation component of nearly 45 euros, plus 1.05 euros for each hour of delay.