As Belgium braces for Storm Goretti, the Home Affairs Ministry has activated the emergency number 1722. For non-life-threatening storm and water damage for which you need the assistance of the fire service, you can either call 1722 or submit a request via the e-desk www.1722.be.
The Home Affairs Ministry would prefer to see you use the e-desk if possible. ‘This will help to avoid having to wait on hold for a long time before getting through to an operator. Sometimes the phone lines get jammed when lots of people call at the same time.’
The emergency number 112 remains available for life-threatening situations. ‘Call 112 only in situations where there is a threat to life. The 112 emergency centres and the fire service always give priority to people in life-threatening situations. Cases are assessed on a case-by-case basis and this is how the decision is taken on who needs to be helped first.’
Brussels Region closes parks, forests and nature reserves
The Brussels-Capital Region is closing all green spaces, parks as well as the Sonian Forest in preparation for the storm. Wind gusts of between 70 and 90 km/h are forecast. That could compromise the safety of visitors, according to the Brussels Environment Agency.
The parks, nature reserves and forests managed by Brussels Environment, including the Sonian Forest in Brussels, will be closed to the public from 4 p.m. The closure is scheduled to end on Friday afternoon. Brussels Environment advises people throughout the region to stay away from trees.
‘When the storm warning is lifted, the affected green spaces will be inspected, cleared and secured. They will then be reopened to the public,’ says the agency.