The PathoCERT Project Publishes Its Baseline Report on Emergency Systems Managing emergency situations requires the collaboration and coordination of various actors from different organisations and institutions. Protecting communities and strengthening their resilience is a complex and intricate task. The baseline report of the PathoCERT project describes the emergency management frameworks of five European countries and South Korea. The report highlights the challenges they face and identifies aspects within the existing frameworks that could be further improved. The six countries analysed in the report – Spain, Bulgaria, South Korea, the Netherlands, Cyprus and Greece – all have unique and complex systems for managing emergency situations. Through exchanges with the respective local project partners, the PathoCERT project has been able to identify how exactly the emergency management processes are structured, which actors are involved and what challenges they face. In the report, we highlight best practices and processes that countries are already implementing as well as leverage points for each pilot region to improve their emergency management frameworks. South Korea, for example, has created guidelines for first responders on how to react during specific emergency events such as tidal waves, volcanic eruptions, nuclear disasters or chemical leakages. A comprehensive communication system enables direct communication between all types of first responders before, during and after an emergency situation. Citizens are also able to provide real-time information on developing disaster situations to first responders over a website. Practices like these are showcased in the report so that they can be be taken up by other countries and regions. Other existing processes can always be optimised to ensure maximum effectiveness. For example, in Granada, Spain an improvement of the emergency management system could entail increasing the number of simulation trainings for large-scale hazardous events or exploit new funding opportunities for innovative technological solutions. Additionally, it became clear that the emergency management system would profit from incorporating external stakeholders that are not part of the direct emergency management. This enables more holistic emergency management services and the creation of novel solutions. The report’s insights lay the foundation for further, country-tailored and multi-stakeholder engagement processes that will be implemented throughout the PathoCERT project. To read the complete findings, please check out the report in our library. For further information, please contact Francesca Grossi. Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash