A simulation exercise titled 'Grecale 2026' was held in Varaždin at the county administration offices, known as the County Palace. This exercise was conducted within the framework of the international GRECALE project, with its primary aim being to assess the capability of the local and county-level civil protection systems to respond in the initial stages of an event. The simulation focused on the effectiveness of coordination among operational forces and on verifying the functioning of communication channels in the critical early phases of a crisis.
Based on the simulation, the scenario involved an earthquake in the area of Ivanče, highlighting that natural disasters do not respect administrative boundaries. Therefore, local communities, such as the town of Ivanče, and wider regional units, such as the Varaždin County, must be prepared to respond. The exercise covered all key aspects of initial response, including the gathering and exchange of information, coordination of operational forces, decision-making, and communication with the public. Special attention was paid to the preparation of requests for the inclusion of higher levels of the civil protection system, which is essential for coordinating assistance beyond local frameworks.
A key element of this simulation was the first-time use of a web-based tool within the project. This digital platform enables the networking of partners and facilitates communication and the exchange of information regarding activities undertaken and stakeholders involved in the civil protection system. This ensures faster and more precise coordination among various stakeholders, which is crucial for an effective response to complex crisis situations.
The GRECALE project, within which this simulation was conducted, began on 1 July 2024 and is scheduled to run until 30 June 2027. The total value of the project is €1,489,987.10, of which 85 per cent, or €1,266,489.03, is funded by the Interreg VI-B programme, specifically the Interreg Adriatic–Ionian European Initiative. This project addresses the risks of floods and earthquakes, with a focus on strengthening territorial resilience and recovery capacity from major disasters in the region.
Numerous partners are involved in the project, including the Eastern Macedonia region as the lead partner, along with organisations from various European countries. Among the participants are the National Confederation of Craft and Small and Medium Enterprises of Abruzzo, the Athena Research and Innovation Centre from Athens, the ARIF Puglia regional agency, the ACT for business development and support agency from Cetinje, and the Fire and Rescue Service of Herzegovina. The aim of this collaboration is to draw concrete conclusions and lessons learned to improve the civil protection system, ensuring more effective and coordinated protection of the population in the event of natural disasters.
