The International Center for Environmental Monitoring CIMA Research Foundation is a non-profit research organization. It aims to promote the study, scientific research, technological development and advanced training in engineering and environmental sciences for the protection of public health, civil protection and ecosystems.
The scientific research conducted by the Foundation focuses on disaster risk mitigation. Since its inception, CIMA Research Foundation has been dedicated tohydrometeorological risk mitigation, developing mathematical models to improve the forecasting and prevention of flood phenomena, and wildfire forecasting and prevention. Over the years, its areas of research have expanded to includewildfire forest biodiversity conservation,satellite data analysis,risk assessmentanddamage data analysis. An important branch of the foundation is also dedicated tomarine ecosystemsand the cetaceans that populate the Pelagos Sanctuary and to the development of civil protection plans throughparticipatory approachwith the population. A line of research is also dedicated to regulatory review activities (including complex national and foreign institutional architectures), legal compliance, legal risk analysis in risk management and forensic investigation.
However, the Foundation’s activities are not limited to research. Our technicians and researchers contribute to the dissemination of knowledge through training, and to technological development thanks toACROTEC Foundation, in house technological body of CIMA Research Foundation.
Making the system of crisis management and civil protection functional was a key topic of the closing project event of CRISPRO on June 8th in Savona, Italy. The event was hosted by the the Italian CRISPRO Project CIMA Foundation. The closing event gathered actors from two municipalities from Slovakia, two NGOs from Italy and Slovakia, one network of municipalities from Macedonia and Serbia, civil protection students from Genoa University, lecturers of crisis management from Ostrava and Ankara Universities, firefighters and civil protection units from Finland, the Czech Republic and France and a representative of the Migration Office of Slovakia.
Key recommendations:
Make procedures reflect the needs of the evolving crisis management and civil protection issues;
Focus on building up multiple strategic thinking skills;
Make the systems work for the emergency;
Rely on experienced staff by facilitating the collaboration between the actors of the civil protection and disaster management community across disciplines;
Decrease restrictive aspects of the legal frameworks;
Enable actors to develop further and share their knowledge;
Invest and enable better planning and mitigation;
Enhance the compatibility and complementarity of actors;
Promote better visibility and accessibility of prevention and preparedness activities;
Make the scientific knowledge easily accessible and operational to respond to the needs of different stakeholders.
Political-strategic level conclusions are as follows:
DRR and risk mitigation assessment require local and regional cross-border levels to run effective inter-operable communications (IRC) internally and externally.
Internally, the situational picture should be built among stakeholders and shared.
Support the situational awareness based on greater scientific knowledge and the use of science in intervention, preparedness and recovery is the main goal of future developments.
Active communication is essential to boost civil preparedness and performance during multi-hazard scenarios.
As part of the last TTX (fast track to decision-making format) experts and strategic managers from Slovakia, Macedonia, Turkey, Serbia, Czech Republic, France and Italy, were exercising (June 7th, 2022) how to manage disaster #riskscenarios in shocking situations.
The exercise involves a #forestfire scenario that has cascaded a series of disasters, which must be managed by the disaster risk managers to ensure the safety of the territory and citizens. The participants worked to define how to manage a disaster, to identify indicators of assessment of risk components, vulnerability, preparedness, capacity and recovery.
Clarity, simplicity, accuracy and estimation of the event are some of the key features. The foundations have been laid for the continuation of this fundamental work and the consolidation of a strong partnership to support local and national institutions in dealing with risk situations and following standardized protocols.
Learning about risk assessment approaches and contingency planning was the main topic of the capacity. building event in Porvoo on 29th March 2022. Municipal, public and rescue service providers from Spain, Italy, Slovakia and the Czech Republic participated in the workshop on risk assessment in the city of Porvoo in Finland.
Mr Mika Gröndahl, director of the Finnish National Rescue Association SPEK, stressed NGOs‘ role in the comprehensive security model and citizens‘ preparedness. At the same time, Ms Tuula Luoma (SPR Finnish Red Cross) and Mr Arsi Veikkolainen from the platform of the Voluntary Rescue Services Vapepa outlined the importance of the continuous building of a professional „army“ of non-public organisations enabling relief and preparedness services throughout the whole society. The cooperation model between non-governmental and state institutions is centred on the idea of humanitarian expertise and volunteer services.
Last but not least, the municipalities are playing a critical role in crisis management, concluded the participants by following the experience of the recent pandemic crisis and excellent disaster risk analyses and management presented by the administration of Porvoo and its preparedness planning. Presenters: Ms Sari Gustafsson, director for education in Porvoo, Ms.Minna Särelä, Development coordinator in Porvoo and Mr Peter Johansson, Director, Rescue Services of Itä-Uusimaa.
The objective of this exercise was to be able to carry out the good practices resulting from the guide developed in the context of the CRISPRO project. The main theme of the exercise was related to a natural risk and a climate-induced episode of heavy rainfall. The exercise was related to caring for vulnerable groups in the affected community and minimising the chemical and radiological risks completing the scenario. The international cooperation visit and table-top exercise took place in Chambery (13-14 April 2022). This event was convened within the project Security and Protection through Knowledge Synergies (CRISPRO). Organisers of the event are two partners of the project consortium as follows:
ISEMI or the International Security and Emergency Management Institute, a Slovakian-based think-tank and security policy organisation and,
SDI73, The SAVOIE Fire and Rescue Services (ICS SDIS73 CRISPRO), a public organisation, is in charge of prevention, protection and fight against disasters of all types.
Objectives of the event: prevention and assessment of civil protection risks, Preparedness of safeguard measures and emergency response organisation, Protection of peoples, goods and environment, and Emergency relief to victims of accidents or disasters and their medical evacuation.
The animation team of evaluators and mentors (about ten people) was provided by the SDIS 73. In addition, the members of the CRISPRO network were requested to facilitate the sequences relating to the reminders of the good practice guide developed in the context of this project. All the necessary mapping was available on the web applications, and paper copies were also provided. The exercise participants were placed in a support function to the local authorities in terms of crisis management. They developed the entire organisation and coordination of the emergency intervention approach. The acting partners anticipated and followed up a list of necessary actions with different services/authorities.
By exercise agreement, the rules for local relief organisations were those of the INSARAG system in the context of international support.
This exercise provided an opportunity to use the good practice guide and extend it if necessary.
The Finnish concept of comprehensive security means that society’s vital functions are secured through collaboration between the authorities, the business community, organisations and citizens.
In the spirit of the Finnish crisis management approach, representatives from Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Finland unwrap a series of topical discussions concerning the role of various actors in ensuring greater resilience of the societies during the technical advisory board meeting on 28 March 2022 in Helsinki.
Ms Ilona Hatakka highlighted the vital functions of the individuals, society and global environment as follows: leadership, psychological resilience, functional capacity of the population and services, economic infrastructure and security of supply, internal security defense capacity and international activities.
In addition, Mr Jari Honkanen (EU and International Affairs Unit, Department for Rescue Services of the MoI, Finland) outlined that ensuring the protection of the civilians is a combination of rescue tasks in prevention and quality reaction, including various rescue services and inhabitants‘ preparedness activities.
Another good example of securing the continuity of the society’s critical economic functions and technical systems was presented by Ms Hanna Havumäki from the National Supply Agency of Finland. Participants of the working meetings discussed opportunities for conducting public-private partnerships for mitigating the consequences of societal disruptions by securing stockpiles.
However, professional skills, fairness and reliability are core values for any response emergency centre, concluded the participants who followed the concise presentation of the senior expert Juha-Veli Frantti. Furthermore, modernisation of services and technological upgrades and legal amendments and educational advances are critical for maintaining quality early warning and emergency responses, concluded participants of the workshops.
The influx of refugees and common migration policies were specific topics of the dialogue meetings of the Migration Offices from Slovakia and Finland and the Finnish Immigration Authorities.
Some people believe that disasters are acts of God and, as such, considered unavoidable. Therefore focusing on the emergency response and relief was essential for politicians. Yet more and more people recognise disasters as failures of unsustainable development. However, the CRISPRO „believers“ put on first place knowledge redressed in applicable measures and operational activities. Also, we create the social, economic and political conditions leading to disasters.
Individuals, communities and governments increase the disaster risk by:
degradation of the environment due to fast-growing, mass construction and urbanisation,
overpopulation urban centres,
pushing poor people to hazard-prone areas,
unequal access and lack of control over resources,
allowing constructions on unsafe and substandard houses and building,
building in a high-risk areas.
The CRISPRO followers understand the risks have led to greater management approaches:
identifying potential hazards,
determining the probability of occurrence,
estimating the impact on communities (people affected/vulnerable groups affected and counting on the needs of the affected groups),
promoting practices for reducing the vulnerability,
planning measures and taking actions to reduce the risk,
creating awareness of how to implement the measures,
increasing preparedness and abilities to increase the professional reaction of first responders and rescuers,
investing in technologies of anticipating, mitigating and saving lives,
providing opportunities for sharing of experience.
What disaster risk reduction has to take place on the local level
The degree of economic losses and damage to buildings and infrastructure determine various levels of exposure and vulnerability of the population, infrastructure, facilities on the local level.
Risk assessment answers the fundamental question.
What would happen if a hazard event occurred in my area
Analyse and evaluate potential hazards, or analyse your environment and learn what type of potential hazards are in your community,
How these hazards threaten /endanger any community/local disruption/casualties/damage losses
Results of risk assessment: enable action and form the foundation for planning and implementing DRR measures
Review the technical features of hazards – location, intensity, frequency and probability
Dimensions have a very political-driven foundation cause they refer to physical, social, economic and environmental vulnerability fo the territory governed by the decision-makers
Taking into particular account the coping capacities and capabilities pertinent to the defined risk scenario
It shall be an integral and regular element of the planning process, local stakeholders.
Identify all local stakeholders that put hands intent of a disaster, hazard-prone events, extraordinary incidents or accidents.
Capacities vs vulnerability are two ground functionalities promoted by the online risk assessment tool of the CRISPRO team. Consultations from Ferrol (4-5 February and 17-18 March) were followed by a webinar with the Czech partners of the initiative (21.3.2022). A group fo young ciris managers discussed the importance of thorough analyse sof vulnerability and evaluation of mathcing capaicties for ensuring greater security and safety of communities and vital societal functionalities.
to sress on the interdependency of modern therats,
to focus on the need for economic and societal efficiency,
to promote adoption to changing nature of communication means,
to examine the challenges in the contex of community response practices
to stress on the high impact of the eventd driving system adaptations,
tpo link the system adapnations to policical and economic provsions,
to determine changes in structural and non-structural measures.
The upgraded version of the etool will be available for working parties of the project by end of April, though we are planning a public launchj of the tool for across municipal crisis managers by end of June 2022.
In case of ineterst to participate the offline e-tool consultations in Savona in June 2022, please contact us on terzieva@isemi.sk
