A nationwide conference held at the Centrum Wystawowe Pronar brought together representatives of public administration, local governments from the Podlaskie and Lubelskie regions, uniformed services, experts, financial institutions, and the industrial sector to discuss civil protection and crisis management.
The conference “Safe Municipality – Civil Protection and Strategic Management of Infrastructure and Public Facilities in Crisis Situations” was held under the honorary patronage of the most important state and local government institutions. The prestige of the event was highlighted by the patronage of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of National Defence, the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Civil Protection and Civil Defence authorities, the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Podlaskie Voivode, the Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship, and the Marshal of the Lubelskie Voivodeship. Such broad support confirmed that civil protection and safety are not only local issues, but also regional and national priorities.
The meeting, organized at the Exhibition Center jointly by Pronar, the Siemiatycze County, and the City of Siemiatycze, focused on issues increasingly affecting local governments: protection of residents, resilience of public infrastructure, and effective response to emergency situations.
Nearly 200 participants attended the event, representing public administration, local governments, uniformed services, state institutions, municipal companies, the military, experts, and the industrial sector. The attendance confirmed that the safety of local communities is one of the key challenges of modern times.
The conference was opened by the co-organizers: Sergiusz Martyniuk, Mariusz Piotr Cieślik – Starosta of Siemiatycze, and Piotr Siniakowicz – Mayor of Siemiatycze. It was emphasized that effective civil protection requires anticipating threats, preparing procedures, developing technical infrastructure, and cooperation between local governments, services, and institutions responsible for safety.
“We are located in a border region where various threats constantly emerge. That is why we decided to organize a conference dedicated to crisis situations. It is better to be prepared,” said Sergiusz Martyniuk.
After the opening session, Agnieszka Zawistowska, Director of the National Support Centre for Agriculture in Białystok, read a letter from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. It emphasized that modern security includes not only the military dimension, but also the resilience of the state and local communities, efficient functioning of critical infrastructure, and cooperation between administration, services, and industry.
The choice of conference location was not accidental. Eastern Poland, due to its location, faces specific challenges. Local governments must be prepared for natural threats as well as those resulting from international situations, migration pressure, or risks of disruptions in energy and water supply.
During the meeting, threats such as floods, fires, storms, snowstorms, environmental contamination, epidemics, blackouts, and migration crises were discussed. It was pointed out that preparation is key—planning actions, securing resources, training personnel, and ensuring access to appropriate equipment.
The substantive part gathered experts in crisis management, municipal services, and local government law. Speakers included Maciej Kiełbus, Romana Gąsowska, Łukasz Dryja, Tomasz Nowicki, Tomasz Ogorzały, Przemysław Wojciechowski, Andrzej Szymański, Daniel Kowalczuk, Marcin Janowski, Michał Gąsowski – Deputy Voivode of Podlaskie, and Sławomir Matyśkiewicz.
One of the key topics was the role of municipal infrastructure in emergencies. It was emphasized that local governments must ensure continuity of basic services, communication, access to water, and efficient removal of damage effects. The effectiveness of actions depends on cooperation between many entities—from municipalities and counties to services and technical partners.
The debates were complemented by a presentation of Pronar’s technological facilities. Participants toured the exhibition center, machinery park, factory, and testing ground, where machines for processing municipal, construction, wood, textile waste, rubble, and tires were presented.
“We can see machines dedicated to local government units,” emphasized Jerzy Wasiluk, head of the Czyże municipality.
Local government representatives noted that preparations for crisis situations are only beginning, and investments in equipment and infrastructure will be one of the key directions in the coming years.
Pronar’s machines and solutions respond to specific needs of local governments. Trailers can be used to remove post-flood waste, shredders to process it, and snow plows also outside winter season—for removing mud and sludge. Spreaders can support activities during environmental contamination, while tanks certified by the National Institute of Public Health enable distribution of drinking water in crisis situations. Such solutions increase operational independence and accelerate the return to normal functioning.
The conference also provided a platform for exchange of experiences between local governments. The importance of practical solutions and the opportunity to directly explore technologies that can realistically support crisis response were emphasized.
The event had a clearly practical character, showing that effective response requires not only procedures, but also proper technical facilities, experience, and efficient communication. The conference confirmed that Pronar, as a machinery manufacturer, can play an important role in building the resilience of local communities.
The organizers announced continuation of the initiative. High interest in the event indicates the need for further meetings dedicated to civil protection and crisis management.