Speakers’ Corner

Science and operations together: building knowledge and capacity on Extreme Wildfire Events -- Extreme Wildfire Events are reshaping the conditions in which wildfire risk is understood and addressed across Europe. The strategic challenge is to move from learning after extreme events to recognising the processes that drive them, anticipating escalation and bringing that knowledge into earlier decision-making. The Speakers’ Corner will connect fire science, real incident data and operational experience, including lessons from recent wildfire seasons. EWED established a basis for understanding extreme fire behaviour and pyroconvection from observed events. ODET is advancing this work towards operational application, linking scientific knowledge with forecasting, situational awareness and decision-making. The next step is to turn this knowledge into lasting European capacity: a shared ability to understand extreme wildfire dynamics, learn systematically from real events and act on that knowledge. The presentation will show how bringing science and operations together can support this shift, translating lessons and scientific advances into forecasting, situational awareness and operational decision-making.

Integrated pan-European rainfall and floods impact forecasts for cooperation in emergency management - INLINE project results -- The EU-funded INLINE project enhances European early warning capabilities by integrating real-time impact forecasts into emergency management for storms, heavy rainfall, and floods. INLINE combines high-resolution radar rainfall composites with NWP forecasts, ML-based hazard models, and exposure and vulnerability datasets to assess expected impacts. Crucially, INLINE adapts its outputs to end-user needs by enabling the integration of local high-resolution datasets and customized notifications. The added value of the project's results is evaluated using a multi-criteria framework during a 15-month real-time demonstration, engaging an active Community of Interest of operational stakeholders comprising organizations from over 20 states. Ultimately, the project will upgrade the radar-based flash flood impact layers of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service for floods (EFAS).

Enhancement of the Flood Early Warning System in Samsun (Türkiye) and Communication Strategy -- The presentation will provide an overview of the results of the project “Enhancement of the Flood Early Warning System in Samsun and Communication Strategy” in Türkiye financed by the Technical Assistance Financing Facility for Disaster Prevention and Preparedness (TAFF) and implemented by the World Bank and GFDRR. It will present the main findings of two key project outputs: the technical assessment of Türkiye’s flood forecasting and early warning system, with a pilot assessment in Samsun, and the Risk Communication Plan developed for the Flood Early Warning System in Samsun. The presentation will summarize the assessment of existing technical and institutional arrangements, comparison with international practices, the pilot flood damage assessment in Terme, and recommendations for strengthening flood forecasting and early warning. It will also present findings from field studies, stakeholder consultations, workshops and training activities, together with recommendations on warning messages, communication channels, institutional coordination, community engagement, accessibility and preparedness. The presentation will conclude with key lessons from the Samsun.

Growing Up Ready: Youth Fire Brigades for a Resilient Society -- How can today’s children become tomorrow’s lifesavers? Beyond formal education, youth fire brigades offer hands-on opportunities to learn first aid, fire safety and teamwork. These experiences prepare young people to help themselves and others in emergencies and can spark a lasting commitment to firefighting and civil protection. In Luxembourg, youth fire brigades have a long tradition, with many of our operational firefighters having joined at the age of eight. A dedicated national association, founded this year, aims to strengthen these youth sections and better support their mainly volunteer leaders. This session explores the opportunities and challenges of running youth fire brigades. How to help young people develop practical skills, confidence and a sense of responsibility, while keeping them engaged in an era of social media and virtual reality. How can we build on this tradition to meet young people’s changing needs and prepare them to contribute to a safer and more resilient society.

DIRECTED Project – Strengthening Europe’s Climate Disaster Resilience -- DIRECTED is a Horizon Europe-funded project bringing together researchers, public authorities and first responders to improve disaster risk management in the face of climate extremes. By integrating data, tools and expertise, and fostering collaboration across sectors and regions, the project aims to strengthen preparedness and response to floods, droughts, heatwaves, forest fires and storms, helping build a more climate-resilient Europe.

TAFF project Montenegro: Enhancing Disaster Resilience and Continuity of IT Infrastructure and Services in the Operational Communication Center 112 -- This presentation will present the findings of the Diagnostic Gaps and Needs Assessment conducted under the Technical Assistance Financing Facility for Disaster Prevention and Preparedness project "Enhancing Disaster Resilience and Continuity of IT Infrastructure and Services in the Operational Communication Center 112". It will examine Montenegro’s current emergency communications and coordination system, including institutional arrangements, operational processes, and technical capacities. The session will highlight key challenges and capacity gaps affecting the effectiveness of emergency communications and inter-agency coordination, while considering these findings in the context of EU standards and Montenegro’s EU accession process.

Enhancing interoperability and volunteer integration in European response operations through capability descriptions and digital tools -- Some challenges are repeatedly reported for large scale incidents. These include among others the integration of multiple agencies (interoperability) as well as of spontaneous volunteers into operational structures. They can be addressed through procedural and technological innovation. Inspired by the INSARAG community, the DARE project co-develops capability descriptions based on operational procedures for wildfire and flood resources. Together with a catalogue of different Command and Control Structures across Europe, they will be made available in an open-source Dashboard, allowing for the digital sharing of incident information between involved stakeholders. In addition, DARE develops an AI-based match-making application VolunTinder facilitating incident command posts with to design dedicated tasks for spontaneous volunteers.

I-SIVAC: Strengthening Victim Support and Information Management Across the Crisis Cycle -- The I-SIVAC project aims to significantly strengthen the Interministerial Information System for Victims of Terrorist Attacks and Disasters (SIVAC), managed by the French Ministry of Justice. The project seeks to make SIVAC a central tool supporting public authorities throughout the entire crisis cycle — from the immediate management and identification of victims following a major incident to their longer-term support and follow-up. Launched in April 2019 in response to lessons learned from the 2015 and 2016 terrorist attacks in France and Hurricane Irma in 2017, SIVAC supports the counting, identification, support and long-term monitoring of victims and their loved ones following major incidents involving large numbers of people. I-SIVAC builds on this experience to strengthen coordination and information management across the short-, medium- and long-term phases of a crisis.