The plan for flood protection in Macedonia and Thrace was presented by the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, in a broad meeting held in Thessaloniki, and he emphasized that it is based on the interoperability of the relevant bodies with the aim, first of all, of protecting human of life.

“When the Risk Assessment Committee informs us of extreme weather phenomena, 112 will be called, all citizens will be informed and we will work together interoperably and in the field to help the world,” said Mr. Kikilias.

This plan, as he explained, will be implemented in three stages:

  • The first has to do with simple water responses and concerns the Fire Service in all cities, towns, villages and regions.
  • The second is the operation of base units (stations) near areas where repeated flooding phenomena have been observed based on the history they all have together (EMAK, firefighters, forest commanders, the special units of the Army, Police, the registry, i.e. the machines required by Municipalities and Regions).
  • The third concerns even more rapid situations that have to do with more extraordinary plans.

After the tragic events in Valencia, the need for coordination and organization is even more imperative, said Mr. Kikilias and underlined: “Once again, the cooperation of everyone here in Northern Greece can have multifold results in smoothing and reducing the consequences of the Climate Crisis.

The Climate Crisis is here, there’s no doubt, and it’s showing its teeth. We had a very dry summer and a dry year, we didn’t have snow in our mountains, there was no ice, it didn’t rain, we faced many challenges and we will face the same in the winter.

We are obliged to prioritize above all the most important which is the protection of human life”.

Regarding the degree of readiness for the operation of the Base Units, the Minister noted: “We presented the special maps, per region and these stations in the field and asked regional governors and mayors to coordinate locally, so that even at a lower level, at the level of the executives of the Greek Police, the Fire Brigade, the Coast Guard and the Armed Forces to know the names of those who will be in these interoperable bases in the field and very close to the areas where we had and faced problems in the past”.

Mr. Kikilias emphasized that it is better to ring 112 and let the experts’ predictions not be fully confirmed, than to ring with a delay of hours, as happened in Valencia, Spain.

The Minister especially thanked the 73 mayors, the three Regions of Northern Greece, ELAS, the Fire Brigade, the Armed Forces, the EKAV, the foresters, the voluntary organizations, and the other bodies that participated in the meeting. He said that they made an excellent effort in the fire fighting season, with measurable results, and he expressed confidence that the same and better level of cooperation will also be achieved for flood protection.

The meeting was organized by the Deputy Minister of Interior (Macedonia and Thrace) Kostas Giulekas.