NEMA wins NIPR’s Outstanding Crisis Communication in Government Award

by Featured NewsPeople

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Lagos State Chapter has recognised the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) with the award of most Outstanding Crisis Communication in Government for the Agency’s flood preparedness and Response Campaign in 2024.

The award was presented by Chairman of the State Chapter of NIPR, Comfort Obot Nwankwo, to the Director General NEMA, Zubaida Umar, in Abuja.

Chairman of the State Chapter of NIPR, Comfort Obot Nwankwo’s statement

The NIPR Chairman, Comfort Obot Nwankwo said: “The NEMA campaign stood out for its innovative and effective communication strategies, utilizing digital platforms, public engagement, and timely updates to educate the public and coordinate responses during Nigeria’s annual flood seasons.”

Director General Nema, Zubaida Umar

Responding, the Director General NEMA, Zubaida Umar, appreciated the NIPR for the award and dedicated it to staff of the Agency across the country for their commitment to work.

NEMA given NIPR award: Summary

NEMA has been awarded by the NIPR for having an Outstanding Crisis Communication in Government for the Agency’s flood preparedness and Response Campaign in 2024.

Elizabethtown joins campaign to ease volunteer firefighter shortage

by Americas - Projects

As the state faces a shortage of volunteer firefighters, the NC Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Association of Fire Chiefs are kicking off a two-year plan designed to alleviate staffing shortages in key parts of North Carolina.

More than 70% of NC firefighters are volunteers. As the state sees the number of volunteer firefighters decline at 11-12 percent every year, several communities are in critical need of firefighters.

Bladen County was identified as one of the 15 at risk counties chosen to take part in the effort.

Elizabethtown Fire Department is the only department in the county that has a paid staff of firefighters, according to Chief Nick West. The other fire agencies in the region are predominately staffed by volunteers.

“There is a shortage, not only in Bladen County but this region itself. We will be utilizing this information from the workforce solutions program and getting the word out saying ‘we need some support.’ It’s a critical level for department members in Bladen County…some members volunteer in multiple departments,” said Chief West.

The campaign is funded by a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to enhance the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. The effort will include local research on where to find potential volunteer firefighters and workshops to improve recruitment and retention.

Just a month into the campaign, the chief says they’ve seen an overwhelming response from the community. The new interest in lending a hand is further encouraged by the department moving to a brand new station that will serve as a crisp new backdrop for tours and educational events.

The chief says recently, they were awarded a grant for a fitness trainer for the department, giving potential volunteer firefighters even more incentive to work with Elizabethtown Fire.

Having a full staff of firefighters allows the department to work faster at fires and medical calls and do things like better handle traffic at car crash scenes, ensuring the safety of all the first responders working the call.

In addition to emergencies, volunteers are vital to efforts that prevent tragedies in the first place like smoke alarm canvassing, educational outreach and fire inspections.

“We want people to know we rely on our volunteers and say ‘look what we can accomplish in Elizabethtown or Bladen County with the great volunteers we have in our community.’ Its really humbling for sure. We’ve noticed in the hurricanes, people can’t necessarily volunteer but they bring stuff and ask ‘what can they do’ and you can tell in times of crisis, small communities really come together,” said West. “It takes a big effort from a lot of different people to help this work and we’re just thankful for the opportunity to get the word out and say here’s what our community’s needs are and here’s how we can expand it and make it better for sure.”

www.VolunteerFireNC.org

Campaigners push for London Fire Brigade HQ plan

by Featured News

Campaigners against a £500m plan to redevelop the art deco, former London Fire Brigade headquarters on the Albert Embankment in Central London, have pledged to step up their opposition in the wake of the scheme being called in.
The mixed-use project has been drawn up by architect Pilbrow & Partners for developer U&I and will include two towers of 26 and 24 storeys respectively built behind the 1937 grade II-listed Thames-side building, which was at the heart of the brigade’s firefighting operation during the Blitz.

However, Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary, Robert Jenrick wants a second opinion. The scheme, which was given planning permission by Lambeth Council in December 2019, has been called in because of heritage concerns and the impact of the towers on nearby Lambeth Palace and the Westminster World Heritage Site.
Government heritage adviser, Historic England, raised concerns about the plans while objectors have included the 20th Century Society, the Skyline Campaign while former Vauxhall MP Kate Hoey took to Twitter on Friday praising Jenrick for calling the scheme in.

A spokesperson for the Waterloo Community Development Group said: “It is criminal that these central London sites have been left mostly vacant for 20 years in public ownership, yet all successive mayors [of London] can do is back schemes helicoptered in and completely out-of-scale or context and of little use to London or Londoners.
“Real people living in real social housing will lose up to 40% of their daylight because of safety-deposit boxes posing piled 90m high beside them.”

U&I had hoped construction would start on site next year and be completed in 2025. In a statement, the firm said: “[Jenrick’s] decision means [work] could now be significantly delayed. The plans followed extensive consultation with the local community [and] will positively transform a site that has lain vacant for almost 10 years.”

Other firms working on the scheme include structures and M&E engineer WSP, cost consultant Core 5, project manager Second London Wall and planning consultant Lichfields. A planning inspector’s report is expected to land on Jenrick’s desk this Autumn at the earliest.