The Fire Service has been placed on general alert, while the Armed Forces, Police, Coast Guard, regional authorities and critical services are on heightened readiness ahead of severe weather expected across the country on Wednesday, January 21. The full activation of the operational plan includes force and resource deployment, participation of special rescue units (EMAK) and emergency response teams (EMODE), as well as operation of base stations with mixed staffing. The goal is immediate response to heavy rainfall and storms, locally intense snowfall and strong winds in various areas. The decisions were made during an inter-ministerial coordination meeting convened by Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Yannis Kefalogiannis, with participation from relevant ministries, civil protection agencies, regional governors and local authority representatives.
Weather emergency meeting decisions
- The Fire Service is placed on alert status, with particular emphasis on Attica, where personnel and equipment are on general alert. The operational plan is fully implemented, providing for force and resource deployment, including EMAK and EMODE units, as well as deployment of mixed-staffed base stations and cooperation between involved agencies according to operational planning.
- Armed Forces, Police and Coast Guard are on heightened readiness.
- Regional civil protection mechanisms are on heightened readiness, including Forest Service, electricity distribution operator DEDDIE, power transmission operator ADMIE, water company EYDAP, emergency medical services EKAV, and highway concessionaires.
- Relevant services of the Interior, Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Health, Environment and Energy, Labor and Social Security, Maritime and Island Policy, and Tourism ministries are also on heightened readiness.
Kefalogiannis calls for increased vigilance and full operational readiness
During the meeting, Yannis Kefalogiannis emphasized the need for increased vigilance and full operational readiness, as well as continuous communication between all involved agencies, municipalities and regions with the National Civil Protection Operations Coordination Center (E.S.K.E.DI.K.) throughout the weather event to ensure timely implementation of necessary measures.
Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Yannis Kefalogiannis stated after the meeting: “Earlier today the National Meteorological Service issued an emergency bulletin for dangerous weather phenomena, as in the coming hours many areas of the country will experience intense rainfall, snowfall, and strong winds. I remind that regions including the Peloponnese, Central Greece, Attica, Thessaly, and Western Macedonia are already under Red Code alert, while remaining areas covered by the meteorological bulletin will be under orange alert. The emergency Inter-ministerial Committee meeting just concluded, with participation from all relevant ministries, Civil Protection agencies, Security Forces, Armed Forces, and concessionaires, to achieve maximum possible operational readiness.
I ask all municipalities and regions to convene emergency Local and Regional Civil Protection Coordination Bodies, and all citizens to faithfully follow Civil Protection guidelines for everyone’s safety. I also remind that in areas with heavy snowfall, all drivers are required to carry anti-skid chains. By faithfully following all Civil Protection guidelines, we essentially ensure everyone’s safety. Thank you very much.“
