Severe weather Bernese civil defense performed 800 days of service in Valais
A total of 160 civil defense personnel from the canton of Bern were deployed in Valais last week.
Image: Keystone
Deployment of Bernese civil defense personnel in Saas-Grund.
Image: Keystone
A total of 160 civil defense personnel from the canton of Bern were deployed in Valais last week.
Image: Keystone
Deployment of Bernese civil defense personnel in Saas-Grund.
Image: Keystone
Last week, the Bernese civil defense performed around 800 days of service in the stormy areas of Valais. 160 members of the civil defense were deployed in Goms and Saas-Grund, as the cantonal security directorate announced on Thursday.
They had traveled to Valais on 8 July to help repair the storm damage. Around 130 civil defense workers helped homeowners in Saas-Grund to clear rubble and mud from their properties. In Goms, the civil defense mainly cleared flooded areas outside the settlement area.
The Bernese helpers were at work with shovels and small excavators. Where the mud was still piled up meters high at the beginning of the week, by the end of the week there were empty spaces again. The feedback from the population and the municipal authorities was correspondingly positive, according to the Safety Directorate.
For Government Councillor Philippe Müller (FDP), the operation shows the importance of a well-equipped and trained civil defense. The need for civil defense missions is on the increase, while the number of civil defense personnel is decreasing, Müller said in a press release.
The Valais authorities had requested support from the canton of Bern at the beginning of July. The ten regional civil defence organizations Niesen, Saanen plus, Spiez, Aarberg, Gürbetal, Jungfrau, Alpenregion, Biel/Bienne Regio, Bern plus and Aaretal took part in the operation.
SDA
