Civil responders currently have limited information available to them to support flood incident planning. A new generation of tools are emerging that produce more detailed understanding of flood ...impacts on people and accessibility during floods. These are typically applied in isolation, proving only a partial assessment of impacts. This paper integrates analysis of flood hydraulics, transport accessibility and human safety to explore the impact of flooding on pedestrians and drivers, and its implications on emergency routes and service areas. A reference scenario, developed and used by the local Civil Protection Agency, is applied to Galluzzo in Florence (Italy). Results shows that 37% of inhabitants live close to roads where they can be swept away, and 78% live in locations where parked vehicles can be transported by floodwaters. Furthermore, at its worst 22.5% of road extension is inaccessible; and all hospitals, fire and police stations cannot be reached, highlighting the need to take preventative action from the outset of an event that is predicted to lead to substantial inundation. Integration of multiple indicators of flood impacts, especially those most relevant to human safety, is fundamental to civil responders if they are to successfully planning and implement emergency response operations in urban environments.
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•A flood risk analysis is developed to increase Civil Protection preparedness.•Detailed data and models, e.g. hydraulic and transport, provide operational tools.•Safety and accessibility issues are modelled to evaluate urban resilience.•Safety issues include risk for pedestrians, parked vehicles and drivers.•The reduction of service areas in accessing critical structures is evaluated.
Italy is a country with high seismic risk. In the past many catastrophic earthquakes have occurred causing severe damage to buildings and infrastructures, serious economic impacts, and the loss of ...thousands of human lives. To mitigate the impact of seismic risk, as well as of other risks, many efforts have been made, implementing preventive structural measures and acting to raise awareness in the community. In Italy, this need was strengthened with the emanation of the new Civil Protection Code (D.Lgs January 2, 2018 n.1), with the purpose of encouraging the participation of citizens and spreading risk knowledge and the culture of civil protection, thus contributing to “increase the resilience of communities” (art. 31). As part of the agreement between the Italian Civil Protection Department (ICPD) and EUCENTRE (European Centre for training and research in Earthquake Engineering), an interactive web-tool was developed to allow citizens to display the most updated seismic risk maps. These maps were produced in 2018 by the ICPD, with the relevant support of the scientific community operating in the field of seismic risk, in particular of ReLUIS (The Laboratories University Network of seismic engineering) and EUCENTRE. The web-tool, named SICURO+ (Information System for Risk Communication, www.sicuropiu.it), was created to raise awareness in citizens on seismic risk in the place where they live, work, or go on holiday. Communication strategies and behavioural techniques were designed and tested experimentally with the support of behavioural scientists, as part of an agreement between the National School of Administration and the Prime Minister's Office.
Ukraine which is experiencing the war is an exemplification of the state that requires urgent military, material (e.g.: reconstruction of infrastructure) and first of all humanitarian aid. The aim of ...the paper is to identify task for civil protections in the future war environment and consequently suggest how to organize the civil protection to face the new realities. The emergency/humanitarian operations in Ukraine prove that delivering any aid should be coordinated by the centers/units consisting of the representatives of all sectors responsible for providing security to citizens. This units would ensure higher effectiveness and minimize/eliminate tasks duplication. The method applied for this research is a case study of the Russian - Ukrainian war (2022) with a focus on civilians, critical infrastructure and assistance provided as the referral points of the analysis. The concept of ecosystem as a multi-actor network and the concept of fractal organization are the theoretical base for the analysis.
One of the fundamental tasks of state institutions in conditions of armed conflict is the protection of the population. In the light of international and national law, this task is dealt with in ...Poland by the Civil Defence of the Country. The aim of the article is to present the condition of this organisation and to assess its ability to fulfil the assigned mission. Conclusions are drawn on the basis of NIK reports and own empirical research.
Aim: The aim of the article is to present the history, essence and mission of the Polish rescue system, and its location in the system of civil protection, civil defence, general security, and even ...more broadly, national security. The article is also an attempt to answer the question about the essence of the Polish rescue system, its holistic definition containing the most important immanent components common to all its fields and varieties. It is also an answer to the question about the main goals of this system, as well as the correlation with the existing threats classified into three main catalogues. Introduction: In this article, the authors tried to familiarize readers with the organization, origins and location of the Polish rescue system in the above-mentioned security systems, articulating its diversity and potential. This article consists of two main parts. In the first one, the authors presented a historical outline of Polish rescue services, presenting its main areas and primary entities responsible for them. The second part presents the essence of Polish rescue in correlation with national security, general security, population protection and civil defence. The whole is complemented by conclusions focusing mainly on articulating the strong and established position of rescue in the systemic approach to public safety in Poland. Methodology: The article mainly analyses the most important normative documents, scientific articles and compact monographs recognized in the field of rescue and protection of the population of the authors. Conclusions: Polish rescue is based on functioning of many institutions (including services, inspections and guards), which partly has historical implications and partly results from a certain internationalization of rescue in several areas, such as sea and air rescue. On the one hand, it greatly complicates the overall picture of the set of elements of the Polish rescue system. On the other hand, it proves his high potential. It seems that the Polish rescue system has an established and strong position in the general security system and constitutes an important element of Polish national security. This does not mean, that this system does not need changes. For example, the above-mentioned dispersion of the system forces the adoption of certain unifications both in the organizational, formal-legal and IT spheres, so that the individual executive and management elements operating within the system operate based on common goals and mission on the basis of cooperation and not competition. Keywords: security, civil protection, rescue, history of Polish rescue, general security
Objectives The article includes a systemic analysis of Poland's potential and response capabilities to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats. As a result of the conducted ...research, the dominant threats, technological resources, legal framework and socio-political reactions related to CBRN incidents in Poland were shown. In addition, Poland's technological capabilities in the detection of chemical agents, gamma and nucleoids were presented. The important role of protective clothing in responding to CBRN threats was emphasized. Material and methods In order to implement the adopted research assumptions, the method of analysis was used consisting in quantitative and qualitative analysis of the content contained in the analyzed documents, literature, legal acts, their ordering and interpretation in terms of the research objective. Results The article highlights the multifaceted nature of the Polish approach, which includes understanding CBRN threats, investing in advanced detection technologies, ensuring the security of response through protective equipment, implementing robust civil protection measures, and adhering to a comprehensive legal framework. The discussion additionally sheds light on the key role of international cooperation in the Polish CBRN strategy. Basically, the article presents Polish preparations as a comprehensive approach combining technological knowledge, legal infrastructure, public security measures Conclusions Poland's strategic preparation for potential CBRN incidents is an ongoing process. While significant progress has been made, the constantly evolving nature of CBRN threats requires a continuous commitment to policy improvement, technological innovation, capacity building and international cooperation.
In this paper, the President of Psicologi per i Popoli – Trentino Daniele Barbacovi presents a summary of the emergency psychology tasks and activities that have been carried out by the association ...at both provincial and national level over the last twenty years.
Research has long demonstrated that victim-survivors of intimate partner violence face barriers to being believed when they seek help via the legal system and are simultaneously at risk of their ...abuser weaponizing the legal system against them. This article draws on the experiences of 54 women victim-survivors of coercive control in Australia who had experienced legal systems abuse within criminal and civil protection order systems. Drawing on feminist legal theory, we highlight that the legal system continues to disbelieve women and validate abusers. These experiences hold implications for victim-survivor views on the merits and risks of criminalizing coercive control.
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