Please help us improve our knowledge on disaster risk reduction by completing CRISPRO survey on multi-hazards and combined threats with cascading effects related to crisis leadership management.
To develop an Assessment Support System supporting policy and decision-makers in systematising interactions of related sectors/disciplines (intervention areas). It will bring positive effects of a given policy (characterised as one of several management options) are enhanced, and negative impacts across sectors/disciplines are identified and adequately addressed/mitigated.
Natural, technological (man-made) and biological risk management practices require a comprehensive understanding of the interactions and interdependencies of the related natural, technological and societal systems. Risk assessment can be challenging even for the impacts of a single natural hazard on a single facility. This initiative focuses on considering multiple and/or combined hazards and multiple interacting facilities at the same time. One needs to also bear in mind possible further cascading events (e.g. domino accidents) and consequences with cascading impacts (e.g. via business interruption) which requires a comprehensive and multi-vulnerability risk assessment involving complex chain(s) severity considerations.
The Civil Protection Knowledge Partnership Platform – the Middle East will bridge the knowledge holders relevant to disaster management actors and enhance coordination, cooperation, compatibility, and complementarity between capacities and experts‘ competence. We are facilitating the cooperation between civil protection actors and humanitarian aid providers.
The initiative’s ambition is to collect and share knowledge, experience, expertise, skills, competence, lessons learned, and best practices in close cooperation with civil protection and disaster management authorities and knowledge holders from the public and private sector. We aim to stimulate research and innovation and a shared understanding of prevention, preparedness and response.
The project will result in a new and consolidated existing partnership in civil protection and disaster risk management in the Middle East, enhancing the cooperation and synergies in prevention, preparedness, and response. Disaster Risk Management actors of the Middle East will connect with counterparts inside the European Union. Also, the partners will strengthen the cooperation between civil protection and the humanitarian community following the role model of the International Humanitarian Partnership.
The partnerswill consider scenario-based approaches. Civil protection and disaster risk management actors come together and team up to exchange good practices, knowledge and expertise under specific disaster scenarios.
The project will identify and strengthen existing relevant civil protection and disaster risk management actors and facilitate the establishment and expansion of new partnerships in the Middle East. Moreover, the project will explore synergies between civil protection and
humanitarian aid based on a „cross-fertilization“ approach
in the following countries of the Southern Neighborhood: Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine;
Jointly partners from the participating countries will identify common priorities of both disaster risk management and humanitarian actions. Data collection and knowledge sharing, expertise and skills and consolidated scientific evidence through cooperation, partnership, and networking will be valued into a virtual platform for information exchange and knowledge sharing.
LinkedIn: HEUREKA – Civil Protection Knowledge Partnership Platform Middle East
Almost two thirds of the EU residents (Special Eurobarometer 511b) are aware of the risk of disasters in the regions they live, outlines a survey distributed by the communication unit of DG ECHO. It also shared with the CRISPRO network some exciting news on the EU’s strengthened civil protection, following the adoption of the proposal for a new UCPM legislation by the European Parliament.
Upcoming new legislation on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism
The European Parliament voted on 27 April to strengthen the role of the European Union in crisis management through a legislative revision of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. This allows for faster and more effective European solidarity and EU operations in response to large-scale emergencies and disasters that affect several countries at the same time.
At the end of 2020, the European Commission gathered citizens‘ opinions on EU civil protection in the 27 EU Member States. The survey results show clear support for the EU’s role in crisis management, with 84 % of Europeans agreeing that coordinated EU action should be increased to respond more effectively to future disasters and crises. More than 9 in 10 Europeans agree that their country should provide help when a disaster strikes in another EU country that is too big to deal with on their own, a clear sign of support for EU solidarity. The full report, and a specific factsheet on your country are equally available.
3. Awareness raising campaign on EU Civil Protection
To raise awareness about the EU’s role in supporting countries in Europe and worldwide to manage crises DG ECHO has launched a communication campaign via its corporate channels as well as through tailored advertising in seven target countries (AT, DE, FR, IT, LT, RO, SK). DG ECHO’s campaign uses various examples to visualise how the EU and EU Member States teamed up throughout the past months – displaying how the #EUActsTogether.
Multi-hazard impact forecasting is critical in any crisis leadership. Any risk interconnection is an opportunity to improve prevention and preparedness, conclude participants of the international CRISPRO networking event on April 27th 2021. While the communities favour the smartness of the economies and social life, the urban and rural environments become more vulnerable. The interdependency of biotopes, cities, infrastructures, industrial zones and societies multiply the effects of any unexpected also extreme environmental conditions causing the technological interruption.
A wildfire in Galicia (Spain) started on August 3rd, 2006. In twelve days, the natural phenomenon was distributed to 1636 local fires burning over 100.000 km2 of forest and triggered terrain damage. IN the next three months, microclimate changes of extreme wind and storms multiply the damages. The burnt wood slides into water streams, storms brought floods that emerged mudslides destroying the coastal line(There was collected a split of 5000 tones of mud. Dozens of seafood species got contaminated, and 24.000 jobs affected. The devastating volumes of the environmental, economic and social damages completely changes the approach from single-hazard corrective actions to multiple assessment and management of the risks of potential hazards on the territory of Galicia, explained Marta Trueba, Universidade da Coruña, Spain.
Also, in the French region of Savoy, the authorities are carefully monitoring the chemical factories that can easily contaminate the agricultural lands in the event of a fire, or heavy rains after a wildfire, unlocking landslide mass movements, added Josseline Le Fèvre, SDI73.
Using the concepts of big-data processing and machine learning through single-point information and data integration allows the creation of new products as a combination of available information. Three essential information facilities are laying the foundations of the holistic approach to aggregation and rapid online assessment of information: profiles of the hazards from historical events, sensing technologies, risk maps, critical objects counting for vulnerability, and a set of elements(sectors, groups, territories, etc.) of reference impacts. In addition, the information from crowdsourcing, emergency 112, and cartographical tools, searchers, and publications alike Wiki contribute with variables of data and references to potential effects, added Xavier Llort from HYDS, a partnering SME of the ANYWEHER project. The weather-induced emergency management initiative offers catalogues or weather and climate forecasts products /snow, fire, storm, flood, severe winds, droughts, etc.) advancing climate risk forecasting and global situational awareness for civil protection actors.
A na-tech accident can be a major challenge for rescue services and crisis management authorities, added Timo Hellenberg from Hellenberg International security consultancy group. He stressed that from 1970 to 2012, almost 9 000 disasters, 2 million deaths, and important economic losses were reported globally due to hazards such as floods, tropical cyclones, and snowstorms.
In January 2005, Flooding in the Northern Baltic Sea occurred in the coastal areas in Finland, Estonia and Russia. In Finland, critical moments were in Helsinki and nearby, in the Loviisa nuclear power plant. The na-tech demonstrated that target prevention, preparedness and response plans are very important for the public sector resistance. Communication and intra-organisational reforms need to rebuild the trust to adopt new methods and learn from ”outside” experience and practices.
Hellenberg International also presented the international RAIN initiative about systematic risk management dealing with the impact of extreme weather conditions on critical infrastructure and bringing mitigation tools to enhance the security of the pan-European infrastructure networks.
Globally, the public order is affected by climate changes. Due to draughts in the countries of the Global South lack sources and food, and people flee to look for better conditions. Prof. Giray SADIK from the Yildimir Beyazit University presented a study demonstrating a critical analysis on how refugee influx increase the public disorder by triggering more terrorism driven events in Europe, and globally.
Finally, the importance of online and cost-effective education and table top-exercises for the first responders and policymakers in the field of disaster resilience was demonstrated by three DG ECHO-supported initiatives: “Go digital – a new approach to project management”, ResponSEE (Planning, development and conduct of a Union Civil Protection exercise response to an earthquake in South-East Europe, HEUREKA (Knowledge Network Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan). The projects also ensure knowledge transfer from theory into practice, which means implementing the concepts, gaining knowledge for the practice, and finally exploring and strengthening synergies between civil protection, humanitarian aid organisations, and private entities. Response strengthens the disaster preparedness in the Western Balkans to bring Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina closer to the UCPM (increase interoperability, enable internet. cooperation). At the same time, the HEUREKA boosts cooperation with the Middle east. Last but not least the AFAN network boosts an information hub for all forest risks and disturbances knowledge relevant for academic users and all risk managers. Furthermore, the fire-disaster driven network enables the users to “connect-collect-exchange” within their communities and meet new potential collaboration partners from all around Europe.
The CRISPRO partnership will redress the examples mentioned above of experience into an interactive online tool for assessing multiple hazards. The idea is to stress the multiple impacts of various events and abandon the philosophy of isolated causes. While interacting risks describes the interaction between environmental disaster drivers and casualty chain, the compound risks refer to simultaneous or successive extreme events (example: climate change and statistical or physical components). In the latter, the background conditions amplify the event. The interconnected risks count on the interdependency of human, environmental, and technological systems and outline the impact on all named systems. Last but not least, the cascading risks outline the disruption of critical / important infrastructure within the tightly coupled organisational system.
If you or your organisation wants to be part of the international open-mode assessment tool on projecting and strengthening resilience in the event of multiple hazards, please share and propose topics, ideas, and solutions by taking part in the CRISPRO online survey.
ANYWHERE tools enable society as a whole and the main civil protection agencies to respond more rapidly than today to extreme climate and weather events and better cope with the high social, environmental, and economic impacts of these extremes. ANYWHERE established a pan-European platform on the identification of extreme climate risks in a number of geographic regions. It refers to critical situations that could lead to loss of life and economic damages. Such early warning should improve protection measures and facilitate the coordination of rescue operations in case of catastrophic situations. The platform serves as a decision-making tool for various authorities when faced with a situation of crisis. It provides state-of-the-art early warning systems to help exposed populations avert disaster. ANYCaRE (ANYWHERE Crisis and Risk Experiment) is a role-playing game specially designed to investigate crisis decision-making associated with weather-related risks in Europe. Specifically, it allows analysing “if “and “how” the tools to raise self-preparedness and self-protection resulting from the ANYWHERE project can support the decision chain in warning systems towards better response. The game simulates the dynamics of the warning and response processes, starting with detecting a potential weather-related threat and ending with decisions related to the coordination of the emergency response. Participants are invited to play specific roles in the warning and decision chain to decide about emergency actions to be taken in response to a weather-induced hazard in a European context. The roles to be adopted (hydro-meteorologists, municipality, road services, first responders, school services) and the potential decisions/actions to be chosen by the players are pre-defined. The players examine weather forecast data and impact-based vulnerability information, interact with others and debate on relevant emergency measures and decide collectively what protective actions, if any, are needed.
ANYcARE serious game at PROCIV workshop -Finland 2019
A4Campiste: increasing self-protection at campsites located in flood-prone areas in Catalonia
A4Cor: ANYWHERE operational demonstration in Corsica Pilot Site
ANYWHERE for CENEM (A4CENEM) National Control Centre for Emergency Management- Spain
ANYHWERE: A new paradigm in climate emergency amangement
A virtual centre for the assistance of the Fire and Rescue Service was established in the Czech Republic. The centre is virtually based on tvhasici.cz. It aims to also support the citizens in actively managing the current situation and overcome the most difficult moments. A focus is given to COVID-19 support of experts from psychology, population protection, and medical sectors.
The website was created at the Government Council for Mental Health initiative, which proposed the involvement of the psychological service of the Fire and Rescue Service of the Czech Republic in the psychological support of the general population.
„Although the tvhasici.cz project is currently focused on the most current topic – tackling the covid-19 epidemic. The teams will enhance the information covering a wide range of security threats and life situations, all to fulfil our long-term efforts, which is to increase preparedness and strengthen citizens‘ resilience, “ adds František Paulus, director of the Institute for the Protection of the Population.
The virtual assistance centre’s deployment enables a broader human-centred approach in disaster management and protection of the population.
CBRN-E crimes are closely linked to environmental crime and their number is constantly growing. Their investigation is a major challenge, and many countries urgently need to improve their systems. An important role for law enforcement agencies is to identify, secure and provide relevant evidence in court proceedings to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. On-site investigation in the CBRN context must therefore meet high quality standards to maintain the safety of investigators and preserve the evidence, which requires skilled and educated experts. This preprint paper describes the basic attributes of a crime scene investigation under CBRN conditions and recommends a global framework of procedures for investigators. It represents a basis for future Biological and Chemical Crime Scene Management Guidance Manual for Law Enforcement planned to be developed by international team of experts under the Umbrella of UNICRI. Download the publication.
Hoaxes, fake news, and misleading information are expanding the cyber interactions to breaching privacy and integrity and questioning the Western Readiness to Respond to Hybrid Threat as proclaimed at the Vilnius Security Forum 2021 held on 26th March 2021.
In 1995 the Net action thriller about a system technology analyst who lost her identity due to a sun-destroyed disk recording her life was welcomed as unforgettable interaction for teasing personal security in the future cyber exposure. The creative projecting on how advanced technologies can overrun our identities is a reality heavily affecting societies living in isolation during the COVID-19 crisis. And the hybrid threats during the world pandemic face the controversial political approaches to lockdowns, curfews, testing, life-saving vaccination and expressions of the forms of democracy in contemporary societies. In the age of data, western governments let data overwhelm democracy.
Can hybrid threats replace our values for identity and democracy? The representatives raised an avalanche of questions at the international conference, followed by over 1300 people. Top policy-makers, security experts, civil society actors, and journalists dealt with citizens and nations‘ security against „wars“ led on social networks, fake media, and statements twitting fast by making use of new technologies.
A member organisation of the CRISPRO knowledge network, the Finnish security organisation Hellenberg International, liaised with the conference. The CRISPRO partner representative Timo Hellenberg moderated a discussion calling for public-private cooperation in mitigating hybrid threats.
„I recall a concept called controllable information some 20 years ago launched in Lithuania’s neighbouring country; nowadays, when we look at the wording and particularly the politics related to the COVID-19 crisis, it is quite the same,“ said Timo Hellenberg.
We have learned from disinformation during COVID-19 to try to integrate the private sector because the companies have a lot of experience from areas where they have already confronted hybrid threats, such as cyber-attacks, mentioned the speakers. Likewise, they concluded that we could learn from IT developers /firms and integrate the private sector experience into the western government systems.
By letting the way to a completely new policy track of artificial intelligence and disruptive technologies, the governments can take advantage of narrowing down the problem of hybrid threats and work together with private firms. One way through is to encourage incentives for the private sector. While the Western governments use the old fashion division of external and internal threats, the threats are not divided into external and internal. The security experts concluded that we could not change the types of threats; hence, we need to change our structures and approaches.
The discussion led to an incentive-driven PPP based on sharing the threat picture where the common interests lay. In the context of security, the supply chain and critical technology involvement are good examples of better cooperation with the „silicon valley“ type companies rather than big industrial companies (as in the Cold War concept).
The panellists mentioned that the governments encountered many technical barriers and other hurdles and solving many issues informally for the lack of regular procedures.
This year the forum was held in an empty conference hall for over 300 persons; however, online actors topped 1300.
About 56 713 433 euro for prevention, preparedness, risk assessment in a disaster is planning to invest the Union Civil Protection Mechanism in diverse projects through five new calls for proposals. Projects shall focus on national preparedness and cross-border and multi-country initiatives, including knowledge, risk analyses, modules, tabletop exercise, multi-hazards scenario preparedness, and large scale exercises in the European Members States and neighbouring countries part of the UCPM. The Information Day promoted the launch of the financial schemes at the online event on 25th March 2021. The DG ECHO team familiarised the potential applicants with the „Prevention and Preparedness Projects“ and „Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network“, giving some useful guidance on the preparation of applications. Almost 250 persons attended the event. The proposal can be submitted in early June. The 2021 Call for Proposals will be published at the following address: https://ec.europa.eu/echo/funding-evaluations/financing-civil-protection/calls-for-proposal_en
Recognising the shared knowledge in risk assessment and reducing the impact of disasters on the population, economic sectors, critical infrastructures, ecosystem services and cultural heritage is the main proposition of the new EC report – „Science for disaster risk management 2020: acting today, protecting tomorrow“. The publication was officially presented at the workbook launching event on 23rd march 2021. You can follow the recorded online event on https://webcast.ec.europa.eu/science-for-disaster-risk-management-2020-acting-today-protecting-tomorrow.
„The book helps experts from diverse regions in our Member States to access knowledge across disciplines, across borders and policies building a more resilient Europe based on science and knowledge… The JRC is putting its long expertise in the field sourcing from different areas such as the Copernicus emergency management services with early warning systems and satellite mapping services“, mentioned Ms Marya Gabriel, the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. The Commissioner also expressed great appreciation for the work done by over 300 experts who drew lessons from COVID-19 and other disasters.
„The EC is strongly committed to ensuring that all policies are firmly grounded in an evidence-based approach. This is particularly true for disaster risk management. By relying on lessons learnt as the bases for our decisions, we can better prepare for tomorrow’s threats, including the unique risks and challenges post by future crises“, said Janez Lenarčič, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management. He also stressed the need to strengthen the abilities to response to multiple hazards and fight on many fronts at once. An example of a similar challenge, he referred to the first large deployment to emergency amidst a pandemic situation in Beirut last year. Besides, the Commissioner highlighted that the Europeans should increase the visibility and access of knowledge to policy-makers and first responders‘ preparedness and operation. In the age of data, the sustainability and relevance of scientific knowledge are to be ensured. The Horizon research programme would support various risk assessment initiatives and disaster reduction with a reach portfolio of calls in civil society, security, digital age, climate change, etc.
Tackling the disaster impacts on population, economic sectors, critical infrastructure, environment and cultural heritage, the report deals with many links between hazards and vulnerabilities to support robust and effective action.
Dozens of practices and lessons learned studying the impacts help manage risks and prepare measures to prevent, mitigate, and prepare for future events outlined in the Joint Research Centre-led book. The knowledge gained is supporting risk prediction and the planning of measures to manage risk. The report is proper for citizens‘ and students awareness learning, and you can download the disaster workbook from the link https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/knowledge/science-for-drm/science-for-disaster-risk-management-2020.
