The Stefan Voda district held a significant community safety event in October. The civil protection simulation drills, conducted every five years, brought together civil protection forces, local authorities, NGOs, and community members to strengthen emergency response skills. The event culminated in a flood simulation in the village of Rascaieti, where response teams and the Local Emergency Commission coordinated sandbagging efforts—a crucial technique for flood prevention in high-risk areas.
The Helvetas Moldova team played an active role in organizing and conducting the final event of the drills. These activities are a part of the USAID-supported “Building Resilient Communities in Stefan Voda Rayon” project, which aims to strengthen the capacity of Stefan Voda’s authorities and communities to manage and mitigate disasters. The project specifically focuses on the towns of Rascaieti, Palanca, Talmaza, and Stefan Voda.
The drill brought together approximately 200 participants, including representatives from local authorities, the private sector, and schools in Rascaieti. Centered around simulating a flood—a recurring natural hazard in the region—the drill provided participants with hands-on experience in sandbagging techniques, an essential skill for minimizing potential flood damage.
The event also served as the launch of the “Prepare Today, Protect Tomorrow” campaign, an information and awareness initiative designed to enhance community resilience throughout the region. Additionally, emergency preparedness plans for Stefan Voda district were presented to the participants, clarifying the responsibilities of stakeholders and providing essential risk preparedness recommendations.
“The project fostered active collaboration between authorities and community organizations in developing Disaster Preparedness Plans aimed at readying the entire community for emergencies. Citizen involvement in preventive planning is essential, and cooperation among organizations, local authorities, schools, the private sector, and the community is the key to success,” said Anton Muntean, project manager for the Building Resilient Communities in Stefan Voda Rayon initiative.
Echoing this sentiment, Olga Luchian, Chairperson of Stefan Voda district emphasized the significance of inter-institutional collaboration in emergency management: “Today, I witnessed how solidarity and teamwork can produce remarkable outcomes. Implementing emergency measures is far more effective when all stakeholders communicate. I hope that what we’ve seen today will be sustained in the future. It’s crucial for us to know how to act in emergencies. I extend my thanks to our development partners. This is a clear example of how we can build a resilient community through collective effort”.
This inter-institutional collaboration and active community involvement are essential for building a more resilient community capable of facing future challenges.
The importance of emergency preparedness
During the event, civil protection teams held demonstrations of available equipment used in emergency situations. First aid kits and communication technologies were on display, and those present, especially Rascaieti Gymnasium students, had the opportunity to test them. This gave them a deeper understanding of how to use the equipment.
Larisa Nigai, the headmistress of Rascaieti Gymnasium, pointed out the importance of preparing students for emergencies, with an emphasis not only on theoretical training but also on practical experience gained by the community in the face of previous disasters. She stated: “Our students are well prepared to deal with disasters. We hold simulations every year, in October and May, including for earthquakes and fires. We discuss calamities and have a dedicated team to evacuate people from the building to an assigned gathering place. Also, during Personal Development classes we bring up education for the community, including first aid techniques. Today’s activity will enhance children’s practical skills which are the easiest to remember”.
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Civil protection drills once again highlighted the importance of cooperation between authorities, organisations, and citizens. This cooperation is essential to ensuring an effective response to disasters and building a more resilient community.
Oleg Topor, head of Stefan Voda Emergency Department, emphasized the importance of sustaining disaster preparedness initiatives in the future. He pointed out the efficient cooperation between the Emergency Commission and Rascaieti village hall which resulted in the development of civil protection applications: “Today we, decision-makers, met with the population and simulated several disasters, and we saw what our forces are, how we can intervene and what mechanisms we have to recover from emergencies. We couldn’t have done it without the help of our partners from Helvetas who initiated discussions with the population and held meetings with residents. And today we proved what we managed to achieve together. Residents are now more informed and aware of the jointly developed recommendations and actions”.
Through these drills, the Stefan Voda district has reaffirmed its commitment to becoming a resilient community capable of confronting future challenges. In a world where disaster risks are increasingly prevalent, initiatives like this are not only beneficial but essential to safeguarding the safety and well-being of communities.
Community mobilization in the face of disasters
Disaster risk prevention becomes particularly important in the context of Stefan Voda district, given the region’s significant exposure to various natural hazards, such as floods, vegetation fires and drought. These threats seriously affect the infrastructure, economy and daily life of residents, making it necessary to adopt comprehensive strategies for disaster risk management. Concerns about disaster risks are evident among residents of Stefan Voda district. Almost 63 thousand people are exposed to the risk of vegetation fires and 25 thousand face the risk of floods. This awareness was reflected in discussions among participants who shared their experiences.
Ludmila Zagoret, Mayor of Rascaieti, mentioned that people in the community are ready to deal to emergency situations given their painful past experiences. “Unfortunately, this preparedness relies on actual past events, such as the floods of 2008 when the level of the Dniester River rose alarmingly. That’s when residents rose to the task, working together to strengthen dikes and monitoring every inch of water. We also had the support of over 100 National Army soldiers, as well as associations and businesses that stepped up to help the victims. We are grateful to benefit from this project which helps us strengthen our resilience and disaster protection capacities”.
Andrei Babin, Mayor of Palanca, expressed his confidence in the capacity of response teams, stating: “We are ready, and these initiatives let us hope that we will not face any more calamities in the future”.
Stefan Voda residents, in turn, shared their experiences and opinions on the community’s preparedness for emergencies. Tatiana, an employee of the Rascaieti town hall and member of the Emergency Commission, highlighted the importance of cooperation in the face of disasters: “When a calamity occurs, we notify all the relevant services and we all get involved like we did in 2008 when we joined efforts to protect flooded gardens”. She stressed that community solidarity and involvement are essential in times of crisis. Svetlana, another resident of Rascaieti, added that “in the event of a disaster we volunteer to help, bringing sand and food to response teams”, pointing out the spirit of solidarity inherent to the community. “During the 2008 floods we moved out, but we stayed close to each other”.
Ina, participant of simulation drills and resident of Stefan Voda, said: “This is my first time in a simulation like this. These drills help us feel safe, and training is essential, especially in schools”. She suggested that ongoing education and training are vital to the future of the community.
Preparing young generations
The need for ongoing education and training was further underscored by activities designed for the younger generation, which positively impacted children’s awareness and empowerment regarding risks. Youth training was a central focus of the event, and the dedicated area for young participants proved to be highly successful. Through educational games focused on safety and prevention, children learned the importance of preparation in a fun and accessible way.
A highlight of the event was Keep Cool, a board game that simulates the environmental impact of business activities and the interconnectedness of the economy and climate. This engaging activity provided participants with insights into the effects of climate change and introduced possible protective actions.
“It’s been a unique experience that aroused genuine interest for environmental issues. We’ve shown that these actions help countries prevent certain phenomena and do not cost the country too much“, said Andreea Cojocari, Keep Cool moderator.
The quiz on disaster management stimulated involvement and made the learning process more attractive. Young people were eager to participate and learned how to respond in case of an emergency and how to provide first aid. “Taking part in these activities makes me feel more confident in the face of an emergency. I’ll know what to do. Thanks to today’s event, in the future I’ll know how to rescue people and how to provide first aid”, said Maxim, a 14-year-old student at Rascaieti Gymnasium. “Now I’m ready to help”.
Using an inclusive approach to disaster risk reduction and preparedness, the Building Resilient Communities in Stefan Voda Rayon project highlights the importance of cooperation with stakeholders which is essential for ensuring effective and sustainable risk management strategies.
The next stage of the project involves the installation of an early warning system that will analyze weather risks and allow the community to react quickly. This system will be critical to protecting lives and property in extreme circumstances, providing vital information for citizens.