Genoa is bolstering its defenses against seismic and tsunami events with a newly updated civil protection plan, officials announced this morning. The plan, refined over the last three years, aims to minimize risk and maximize response capabilities in a region historically vulnerable to natural disasters—but often associated more with landslides than earthquakes.
Preparing for the Unexpected: Genoa’s New Disaster Plan
The city is updating its strategies for seismic and tsunami risks, building on lessons from past events and modern scientific analysis.
- Genoa’s updated plan addresses both seismic and tsunami risks, acknowledging the region’s vulnerability to both.
- The plan incorporates detailed studies of potential damage scenarios, allowing for a more proactive response.
- A regional contribution of 40,000 euros has been secured to support seismic microzonation analyses.
- The updated scheme, slated for 2025, represents a significant improvement over the 2011 version by focusing on pre-event critical issue identification.
The presentation of the Specific civil protection plan for seismic and tsunami risk took place this morning in the Representative Hall of Palazzo Tursi. Experts and technicians from the Civil Protection Directorate, the Urban Planning Directorate, and the Municipality’s information systems detailed the activities and collaborations undertaken in recent years. Pasquale Criscuolo, the general secretary of the Municipality of Genoa, introduced the proceedings, followed by remarks from Councilor for Civil Protection, Massimo Ferrante.
“The history of our city and our country teaches us that we are vulnerable to the forces of nature,” Councilor Ferrante explained. “It is essential to plan ahead and implement prevention policies and strategies that can protect citizens in the event of natural disasters. While Genoa is often associated with hydrogeological risk, Liguria is also a seismic area, having experienced significant events like the 1887 Diano Marina earthquake, which impacted our city. We cannot prevent earthquakes, but through careful planning and adherence to building regulations, we can mitigate their effects. Crucially, citizens must be actively involved, which requires promoting a culture of prevention.”
The initiative builds on a project to adapt seismic legislation, including a proposal for first-level seismic microzonation analyses. These analyses include assessments of Limit Conditions of Emergency (CLE) within the urban area, adhering to standards set by the National Department of Civil Protection. This proposal secured a 40,000 euro regional contribution for the Municipality.
These studies have spurred a revision of the current Operational scheme for seismic emergency management, aligning with provisions in Legislative Decree n.1/2018 (Civil Protection Code) and guidelines from the Head of the Civil Protection Department regarding Tsunami Risk. The University of Genoa – Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences (DISTAV) provided scientific contributions for seismic microzonation, while the Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA) focused on CLE analysis and seismic risk scenario definition.
The Urban Planning Directorate has revised level 1 Seismic Microzonation studies based on national IT guidelines as part of updating the geological discipline of the Municipal Urban Plan. The Information Systems Management provided IT support, ensuring compliance with required drafting criteria. Extensive research was conducted at the Municipality to gather historical data on strategic buildings, followed by inspections utilizing CLE methods and specialized software to evaluate vulnerabilities.
The innovation of the Operational Scheme for Seismic and Tsunami Risks – 2025 update lies in its ability to assess the Municipal Civil Protection System’s response to various seismic scenarios, identifying potential issues proactively. This represents a significant advancement over the 2011 document, which focused solely on managing an event as it unfolded.
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