BEIJING: “If you have no idea which comes first, tomorrow or an accident, our digital platform can now give you the answer.”
Chen Weiguo, head of the emergency management bureau of Ruichang, Jiangxi province, made that comment as he concluded his introduction to the city’s smart emergency command platform.
The platform, whose development was based on data compiled during the First National Census on the Risk of Natural Disasters, integrates various powerful functions that can quickly identify the shortest disaster-relief route and the nearest emergency shelter in the event of a crisis.
According to Chen, there is no doubt that the platform is of great benefit to local policymakers and rescue workers in disaster-weary Ruichang, located in East China’s Jiangxi.
Since ancient times, the city, which has a population of 460,000, has been prone to many types of natural disasters, including floods, geological hazards, forest fires, earthquakes and meteorological catastrophes.
According to official statistics, the city’s average financial loss from disasters surpasses 100 million yuan ($14.5 million) every year.
Now, though, the census offers a smarter way for Ruichang’s officials to strengthen their ability to prevent and respond to disasters. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
