State Audit Office urges full crisis response chain after storm

LRT reported that the entire chain of emergency services and state institutions must work together to manage crises after last weekend’s storm left thousands of people without electricity and mobile communications, according to Živilė Kindurytė, deputy head of Lithuania’s State Audit Office.

Kindurytė told BNS that Lithuania should develop a national risk analysis methodology and complete preparations across all levels before the next crisis. This should make clear who needs what, when it is needed and how assistance should be delivered.

“The storm once again showed that having plans is not enough,” Kindurytė said. She said the response required resilient infrastructure, coordination between institutions, rescue forces when necessary, municipalities and assistance for residents.

She said previous audits had found that only two municipalities were prepared to involve nongovernmental organisations in helping residents and knew where assistance would be needed and which people would require it.

Kindurytė said progress had been made in recent years, including clearer institutional responsibilities and a strengthened role for the National Crisis Management Centre. However, communication between institutions remained insufficient, while improving infrastructure would require funding.

She also said the system provided for individuals to take care of themselves during the first three days of an emergency, municipalities to provide assistance on days four to six, and the state to step in later if necessary.

State Controller Irena Segalovičienė said emergencies quickly tested whether the state’s preparations worked in practice. She said reliable infrastructure, coordinated institutions and timely assistance were more important than the number of plans and documents, and that weaknesses had to be addressed in advance.

The State Audit Office said audits and follow-up monitoring showed that preparedness for emergencies had improved in recent years, but important work remained. Auditors are currently assessing responsibility for protecting energy, communications and other critical infrastructure, as well as whether existing protection measures match identified threats. The audit results are expected early next year.