Civil Protection Issues Warning and Calls on Individuals and Legal Entities to Be Prepared to Respond Due to Announced Wind Gusts

(Patria) - Given that the Federal Hydrometeorological Institute has issued a YELLOW WARNING for strong southerly wind gusts, with gusts expected to reach speeds of 40 to 60 km/h, and on plateaus and mountains from 60 to 80 km/h within the time interval from February 23, 2024, at 06:00 to February 24, 2024, at 10:00 throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Sarajevo Canton Civil Protection has issued a warning.

"We warn all legal and natural persons to, preventively for the protection of human health and life, as well as material and cultural assets, IMMEDIATELY, in accordance with their competencies and obligations prescribed by the Law on Protection and Rescue of People and Material Assets from Natural and Other Disasters, take the necessary preventive protective measures against strong and stormy winds (prepare adequate forces and material-technical resources for a rapid response to the announced strong and stormy wind gusts). This will create prerequisites for a more efficient and faster response of all subjects of the protection and rescue system in a comprehensive response to potential challenges and threats from strong wind gusts, and avoid major material damage, as well as possible injuries and human casualties.

We particularly appeal to legal entities carrying out construction work to not leave objects that could fall from roofs, scaffolding, etc., due to strong winds, thereby endangering the safety of passers-by.

"We also appeal to citizens not to leave objects on their balconies and other open spaces that could endanger the safety of passers-by due to the wind, not to park their vehicles near large trees, and to avoid excursions and spending time in nature during the period of the yellow warning. We especially appeal to municipal civil protection services in the Sarajevo Canton area TO IMMEDIATELY put their organized protection and rescue forces on alert, so that they are READY AS FIRST RESPONSE FORCES, to respond in accordance with their competencies and obligations according to protection and rescue plans to potentially possible strong and stormy wind gusts in their municipalities", the statement said.

The Civil Protection reminds the mentioned subjects that they are obliged to IMMEDIATELY, AS SOON AS they notice or become aware of any danger or phenomenon that could lead to a natural or other disaster, provide all information about it to the Cantonal Operational Center of Civil Protection at tel. number 121, which operates continuously 24 hours a day, every day", the warning from the Sarajevo Canton Civil Protection states.