Rain didn’t stop Boden from talking about preparedness

Raincoats and umbrellas were needed, but the weather did not stop people in Boden from stopping by. Throughout the day, there were plenty of conversations about home preparedness, emergency water supplies, energy, food and different backup solutions.

A range of organisations with different roles during times of crisis gathered in the square. The flashing blue lights on the Fire and Rescue Service and Police vehicles quickly became a magnet for younger visitors, while adults had the opportunity to ask questions and talk about preparedness. Visitors could also discuss water and energy with the municipality’s water and wastewater services and Bodens Energi, and learn more about the municipality’s emergency preparedness.

DC Farmers, Hushållningssällskapet, Arctic Mobile, Närradion Boden, Coop Norrbotten and Civil Boden contributed further perspectives on how both society and individuals can be better prepared.

Music, knowledge and tricky questions

The Boden School of Arts wind orchestra provided music, encouraging many visitors to stop for a while in front of the stage. Municipal Commissioner Béatrice Öman and Municipal Chief Executive Magnus Åkerlund also spoke about the importance of being prepared when something unexpected happens.

Visitors also had a chance to put their knowledge to the test. Around 50 children and adults took part in the preparedness quiz, competing for first, second and third prizes in two categories.

Those who wanted to learn more could continue to Forumsalen. There, Eva Gunnare talked about wild plants and how they can be used, while Pelle Johansson from Hushållningssällskapet talked about the importance of local farms.

Smart water tip wins preparedness competition

Saturday also saw the winner announced in the week’s preparedness tips competition on the municipality’s Facebook page, where people in Boden had been invited to share their own tips.

The winning entry was about replacing the water stored for emergencies at a time when the old water can also be put to good use:

“I replace the water in my emergency water containers in early summer. That way, I can use the old water for my plants and refill the containers while water is readily available, rather than doing it during a period of water shortage.”

This means the old water can be used for plants while the emergency water containers are refilled when water supplies are plentiful.

A nice end to Beredskapsveckan

The family day Are You Ready? brought this year’s Beredskapsveckan in Boden to a close. Throughout the week, people in Boden have had opportunities to meet, learn more and think about their own preparedness – all centred around this year’s theme, You are part of Sweden’s total defence.

“Preparedness is highly relevant, and there are many things that can affect a community. During the week, we wanted to increase awareness of preparedness among people in Boden and show that we all have a role to play. Preparedness is something we build together – the municipality, local businesses, associations, organisations and everyone who lives here. The strong engagement throughout the week shows that many people want to get involved and help strengthen Boden’s ability to cope if something happens. It’s both encouraging and reassuring,” says Anna Lundqvist, project manager at Boden Municipality and coordinator of the municipality’s activities during Beredskapsveckan.