«Active Battle» Bill introduces expert-led flood Risk Assessment and Real-Time Forecasts
Greece is introducing new tools to prevent and manage flooding through the proposed climate and civil protection bill, “Active Battle”, currently under consultation.
The legislation foresees the creation of a Flood Risk Assessment Subcommittee and the establishment of an Operational Meteorology Unit (Unit7–METEO) within the National Crisis Management and Operations Coordination Center (E.S.K.E.DI.K.), aiming to enhance scientific expertise in both flood prevention and operational preparedness.
The Flood Risk Assessment Subcommittee will include specialists such as hydrologists, who will continuously evaluate flood risks based on meteorological data, local vulnerability, soil saturation, stream behavior, and infrastructure. Operating under the Risk Assessment Committee, the subcommittee will provide scientific assessments of flood risk at national, regional, and local levels and support decision-making for preventive measures.
The new Unit7–METEO will provide 24/7 operational meteorological analyses and forecasts to strengthen preventive planning, readiness, and decision-making before and during severe weather events. It will complement the scientific assessment of flood risk and improve the accuracy of early warning systems, including 112 alerts. Forecasts will now include not just rainfall predictions but also timing, geographic distribution, intensity, and potential impacts in high-risk areas.
Local authorities will be required to develop mandatory flood prevention plans, systematically mapping vulnerable areas, setting intervention priorities, and integrating flood prevention into operational planning and daily municipal operations. Recognizing the varying administrative and technical capacities of local governments, the bill includes a transitional period with clear timelines, as well as scientific and administrative support from the central government.
Special provisions address small island and mountainous municipalities, which are particularly vulnerable to flooding but often lack adequate resources. Targeted support measures for preparing and implementing local flood prevention plans will be incorporated into the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection’s annual planning.
The bill aims to combine scientific expertise, real-time monitoring, and coordinated local action to reduce the impacts of flooding and strengthen Greece’s overall resilience to extreme weather events.
