PROJECT #SIQUAKE2020

Earthquakes represent a great risk for the Republic of Slovenia. Since the 16th century more than 50 earthquakes with an intensity of at least VII on the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS) have been documented.

The belt of major seismic hazard runs through the central part of the country, from the north-west to south and south-east.

A hypothetical earthquake in Central Slovenia would represent the worst possible scenario due to:

• the population density,
• the high number of daily commuters,
• the large number of state and economic institutions,
• road intersections and energy infrastructure.

A hypothetical earthquake in Ljubljana and the surrounding municipalities with an intensity of VII-VIII on the EMS would have the following consequences:

• 600,000 people exposed to the effects of the earthquake,
• Over 60,000 people temporarily relocated,
• Over 100 buildings completely destroyed,
• Over 5,000 buildings needing thorough renovation,
• Transport, telecommunications and energy infrastructure affected (Disaster Risk Assessment in the Republic of Slovenia, Version 2.0).

It is necessary to increase the prevention, preparedness and response capacities of the civil protection system for the event of a major earthquake.

For this reason, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, with project partners from Croatia, Italy and Germany, is implementing a project called Full Scale Civil Protection Exercise SIQUAKE2020.

PROJECT PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

Increasing the preparedness and response capacities of the civil protection system of the Republic of Slovenia and the Union Civil Protection Mechanism in the event of a major earthquake and its subsequent consequences in Central Slovenia.

PROJECT DURATION

The project began on January 1, 2019, and has an expected end date of December 31, 2020.

CONTENT AND SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

• Preparation and conduction of various events, such as exercises, workshops and training courses, for different stakeholders at the local, regional, national and EU levels.
• Designing deliverables with good practices and recommendations available to all Union Civil Protection Mechanism Participating States and partners.
• Implementation of the awareness-raising public campaign.

ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

Workshops

1. Mass Shelter Workshop: experts will discuss and analyze existing knowledge on providing temporary mass shelters after a major emergency, with a focus on the application of the MaSC Tool Box;
2. Host Nation Support (HNS) Workshop: the project will support the implementation of the HNS training at the EU level with the development of a HNS Training Outline, which will focus on the implementation of the HNS training at the national level.

Table Top Exercise

• Based on the premise of an earthquake in Central Slovenia;
• Local, regional and national civil protection staff, ministries and government bodies will test the response capacities of the civil protection system in the event of a major earthquake and its subsequent consequences in Central Slovenia, in accordance with the National Protection and Rescue Plan in the event of an earthquake;
• A two-phase exercise:
  • First phase: focusing on a situation and needs assessment, early warning, coordination, preparation of a response plan etc.;
  • Second phase: launching a request for international assistance through Union Civil Protection Mechanism and a simulation of the coordination of that assistance.

Full Scale Exercise #SIQUAKE2020

• Key project event;
• Duration: 4-5 days;
• Based on the premise of an earthquake in Central Slovenia;
• Focused on the operational management and field coordination of different stakeholders;
• Multiple exercise sites in Ljubljana and its surroundings, simulating the devastating effects of an earthquake, for national and international rescue teams;
• Full Scale Exercise activities:
  • Situation and damage assessment,
  • Needs and priorities assessment,
  • Search and rescue of destroyed buildings,
  • Shoring and stabilization of damaged buildings,
  • First aid,
  • Host Nation Support activities,
  • Temporary mass sheltering for the affected population etc.;
• Over 800 participants from several countries:
  • Civil protection commanders, deputy civil protection commanders, and civil protection headquarters at the local, regional and national levels,
  • Civil protection staff,
  • Firefighters,
  • Urban Search And Rescue capacities (USAR) from several countries,
  • Dog handlers,
  • Scouts,
  • Red Cross,
  • Slovenian Police,
  • Slovenian Armed Forces,
  • European Union Civil Protection Team (UCPT) etc.

#SIQUAKE2020 Leaflet:

• Leaflet