RIGA, May 22 (LETA) - Taking into account the recent drone incidents in eastern regions of Latvia, the Crisis Management Center has developed guidelines for state administration and municipal institutions, basic service providers, legal entities, other institutions, and the public, the center informed LETA.

The guidelines identify institutions that have to ensure continuity of operations during a potential airspace threat. The heads of these institutions must plan and coordinate their work based on the institutions' crisis plans. In addition, each institution will have to develop internal algorithms in the event of a drone threat, defining the personnel required for continuity of operations and resilience of the sector, and organization of their work for the duration of the threat. These institutions will also have to establish internal procedures in the event of an airspace threat and assess suspending their operations, if this is permitted by technological processes.

These institutions include critical infrastructure facilities and institutions, and providers of critical financial services, the interruption of the operation of which could cause significant damage to life or health, or significant losses.

Business continuity must also be ensured at institutions that provide for the basic needs of the population: food, housing, healthcare, electricity, water supply, heating, waste and sewage management, communications.

Continuity of operations must also be ensured at facilities where the interruption of technological processes may cause hazards due to chemical processes, the nature of the machinery or other specific characteristics.

Finally, this list also includes pre-schools and primary schools.

However, heads of other institutions, including state and municipal institutions, merchants and other service providers not in areas where business continuity must be ensured will, after assessing information in cell broadcast alerts, decide on further action depending on the specific situation, without endangering the life and health of themselves and their employees, and in compliance with the internal regulations and safety requirements of the institution, state the guidelines.

At the same time, the guidelines explain what residents have to do if they are at home, on the road or in their car, in a store or other establishment, in a forest or open field during an airspace threat.

For example, if a person happens to be outdoors during an active airspace threat, certain safety precautions will have to be taken.

First, residents must stay outdoors only as long as necessary to carry out their immediate work duties or to reach the nearest shelter. When moving around, the person has to identify early on possible places for quick concealment, such as buildings, underground or other structures that can serve as cover.

Residents are advised to avoid open fields and areas where no natural or artificial cover is available and the person is easily visible from the air. One should also avoid being in close proximity to potentially dangerous facilities and objects, in particular oil tanks, gas mains or chemical storage facilities, which may pose additional risks of explosion or contamination in the event of an incident.

Residents must not approach any downed objects or debris, keep a safe distance and inform the rescue services of the discovery by calling 112.

The importance of mutual support among the public in the event of an airspace threat is also emphasized. While acting in accordance with the instructions provided in the cell broadcast alert, people are encouraged, where safe and possible, to provide support for neighbors who may require additional assistance. Nevertheless, the priority should always be to ensure personal safety, following instructions of the competent authorities.

The guidelines have been developed in cooperation with the relevant authorities and ministries, said the Crisis Management Center.

As reported, starting from Saturday, May 23, the National Armed Forces will use two-level cell broadcast alerts to inform the public about possible airspace threats or when immediate action is required.

Yellow warnings will be used to inform residents about a potential airspace threat that does not require immediate action. Orange warnings will be used to notify the public of an identified threat in Latvian airspace, which requires immediate action by residents in accordance with the instructions provided.

Residents are advised to read safety tips on sargs.lv and 112.lv websites to learn what they have to do in case of an airspace threat.

LETA also reported, on Tuesday and Wednesday, residents of several municipalities in Latvia's eastern region of Latgale received cell broadcast alerts about a possible threat in airspace. On Tuesday, such warnings were issued also in a number of municipalities in Vidzeme.