The challenges posed by climate change and flooding are complex and require integrated and sustainable solutions, as recent events have unfortunately demonstrated. Civil protection, combined with active societal participation and awareness, can be a key tool in addressing these challenges, always combined with the active participation and awareness of society.
Lever – Development Consultants S.A., a member of the Samaras & Partners Group, within the framework of the FLOOD SHIELD project (Interreg GR-NMK 2014-2020), supports the General Secretariat for Natural Environment and Water (GSNEW) of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MEE) and the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace (DAM-Thrace) in their joint efforts to promote and enhance flood management in the Axios/Vardar river basin. This collaboration is in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and the Civil Protection Directorate of the Republic of North Macedonia.
Awareness events, informational sessions, seminars, and training programs are among the actions carried out by GSNEW-MEE and DAM-Thrace with the support of Lever – Development Consultants S.A., aimed at improving the technical capacity of civil protection authorities for effective flood risk assessment, monitoring, preparedness, and response in the Axios area. These efforts also emphasize the important role of citizens and volunteer groups in flood management.
Specifically, on October 13, 2023, as part of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, a series of events were held at the Center for Digital Transformation and Digital Skills to highlight topics related to prevention, protection, preparedness, and disaster response from floods, focusing on the transboundary Axios river basin. The event was coordinated by Ms. Ioanna Pothitaki, a European Projects expert at Lever – Development Consultants S.A. The opening remarks were given by Mr. Petros Varelidis, General Secretary for Natural Environment and Water at the MEE, and Mr. Stelios Tambakidis, Head of the Civil Protection Directorate of DAM-Thrace. Participants included representatives from civil protection services, the fire brigade, volunteer civil protection groups, independent experts, and providers of related technological equipment and services.
During the presentations, Mr. Georgios Chatzinikolaou, Environmental Director at Lever – Development Consultants S.A., explained: “We presented two deliverables from the INTERREG – IPA CBC ‘FLOOD SHIELD’ project concerning: a) the data production network for flood emergency warnings and b) the flood vulnerability analysis. The data production network consists of meteorological and hydrometric stations. While the meteorological network is adequate, the hydrometric network requires upgrading and densification. We propose upgrading several hydrometric stations to enable continuous data production. The vulnerability analysis was based on the Flood Vulnerability Index (FVI) and covered segments of the Greek part of the Axios basin. Due to natural factors (narrow rivers, gorges) or man-made structures (dams, drainage canals, bridges), flooding can occur upstream from sediment accumulation. The analysis identified the area upstream of the Elli dam through to Polykastro–Axioupoli as the most vulnerable.”
The events also highlighted new challenges faced by central, regional, and local authorities, as well as the business community, academia, volunteer organizations, and local societies. These stem from increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and the broader climate crisis, underscoring the urgent need for protective measures for citizens and the environment.
It was emphasized that coordinated action among all involved entities is essential, along with the installation of monitoring and management systems to enable timely and effective flood management at all governance levels. Furthermore, the necessity to tailor Emergency Response Plans (or Action Memorandums) and Urban Accessibility Plans at a local level to address flood events was stressed.
The critical role of civil protection volunteers and their involvement in prevention, protection, preparedness, and disaster response was also recognized, along with the need for detailed documentation of all equipment, tools, and human resources to facilitate comprehensive planning.
The FLOOD SHIELD project’s information and awareness activities will continue with the support of Lever – Development Consultants S.A. through December 2023, including a series of training seminars for municipal staff in the Axios river basin, volunteer civil protection groups, and vulnerable populations such as the elderly and persons with disabilities. The aim is to enhance the preparedness of civil protection entities for timely information dissemination and response in flood events, while also informing local volunteer groups and vulnerable communities about their roles and necessary actions.
