Strengthening Europe’s Preparedness - Interview with Gaetano Vivo

Gaetano underscores the critical role of prevention, preparedness, and community-based strategies to increase risk awareness, reduce risks and effectively manage emergencies. Here are three practical tips he shared during the podcast: 

• Prevention and Preparedness as Priorities 
  Prevention and preparedness are essential components of effective disaster management. However, they are often under-prioritised. Gaetano emphasised the need to make prevention and preparedness a priority for policies and funding programmes, noting that investments in these areas frequently yield benefits that far outweigh the costs. 
• Community-Based Approaches 
  In an emergency, family members and neighbours often act as first responders before professional services arrive. Strengthening community networks and training local agents in basic first-aid and emergency skills are key to saving lives during the critical moments following a disaster. 
• The Power of Knowledge Sharing 
  Gaetano highlighted the importance of mutual learning through the exchange of good practices. Learning how other parts of the world address emergencies and understanding the solutions they implement can help Europe identify and fill gaps in its disaster preparedness systems.