The Municipality of Zitsa, Ioannina, is implementing a comprehensive project to strengthen its resilience against natural disasters, aiming to enhance public safety and adapt its Civil Protection mechanism to modern crisis management requirements. The project includes the development and implementation of two specialised strategic plans, codenamed “Dardanos 2” and “Iolaos 2”, addressing flood response and wildfire management respectively.

“Dardanos 2” Plan

The plan focuses on immediate response and the short-term management of flood incidents, with emphasis on:

• Risk analysis based on geomorphological and hydrological data.
• Definition of roles and responsibilities for municipal departments, local councils and citizens.
• Organised evacuation of the population in high-risk situations.
• Coordination of personnel and communication resources to ensure rapid and coordinated response.

“Iolaos 2” Plan

The plan focuses on wildfire response and the protection of the natural environment, infrastructure and human life. It includes:

• Coordinated support for the operational activities of the Fire Service.
• A Civil Protection mobilisation system with clearly defined responsibilities for municipal officials and departments.
• Enhanced preparedness measures in high-risk areas, based on the Daily Fire Risk Prediction Map.
• Procedures for the organised preventive evacuation of citizens, including assembly points, available transport and temporary accommodation facilities.
• Training programmes and emergency exercises for municipal staff and local communities to strengthen operational preparedness.

Innovations and Benefits

The project introduces several innovative practices, including:

• Systematic risk analysis for the identification of vulnerable areas.
• Interoperability and collaboration among all involved stakeholders.
• Detailed mapping data and comprehensive inventories of settlements and assembly points.
• Volunteer and contractor registries that enhance emergency response capacity.

By implementing the “Dardanos 2” and “Iolaos 2” plans, the Municipality of Zitsa has established a modern civil protection framework that ensures a high level of preparedness for floods and wildfires, protects the lives and property of citizens, and contributes to preserving environmental sustainability.