On 5 October 2026, the first Prep2Shelter Stakeholder Workshop took place in Athens, Greece. Researchers, Civil Protection officials and DRM practitioners from the project partner countries discussed disaster sheltering experiences and contributed to the development of the project’s multicriteria methodology.
The first Prep2Shelter Stakeholder Workshop took place on 5 October 2026 at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens, Greece, hosted by the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA).
The workshop brought together researchers, Disaster Risk Management (DRM) practitioners, Civil Protection officials and local government representatives to exchange experiences on disaster sheltering and discuss how lessons from previous disasters can support better preparedness.
The event opened with presentations by Dr. Luísa Sousa, Prep2Shelter Coordinator from the National Laboratory for Civil Engineering (LNEC), who introduced the project, its objectives and European policy context, and Prof. Anastasios Sextos, from NTUA and the University of Bristol, who presented the technical and scientific framework underpinning the project and its shelter readiness assessment methodology.
Three expert keynote presentations then provided international perspectives on earthquake risk reduction, sheltering and post-disaster management in Türkiye. The workshop also included presentations and discussions on experiences from Italy, Greece and Iceland, as well as the Civil Protection of Lisbon.
Watch the keynotes live stream here: https://www.youtube.com/live/f5XtsTQu61E?si=8Qw1HQGblo9gE-SE
A central part of the workshop was the collaborative session with DRM practitioners. Participants discussed three dimensions of effective disaster sheltering: governance, management and recovery; people's needs and services; and sites, buildings and infrastructure. Working together, participants reviewed and refined preliminary objectives for the Prep2Shelter methodology and discussed the practical challenges that should be considered when assessing shelter options.
The workshop highlighted the importance of combining scientific knowledge with operational experience. The input from DRM practitioners will contribute directly to the development of the Prep2Shelter multicriteria methodology and IT decision-support tool, with the aim of supporting authorities in making better-informed decisions when planning for emergency sheltering.
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