DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL HAZARDS PREVENTION & MANAGEMENT

The Department of Natural Hazards Prevention & Management (FYC) operates under the Directorate of Natural and Technological Hazards Management (DFYTEK) of H.S.G.M.E.. Its mandate covers geological hazards, including landslides, erosion, secondary effects of earthquakes, volcanic risks, water-related hazards, and flooding.

The Directorate of Natural and Technological Hazards Management (DFYTEK) was created in March 2019, following Law 4602/2019, which established the Hellenic Authority for Geological and Mineral Research (H.S.G.M.E.). Its role is to strengthen the contribution of the Geological Service in dealing with natural hazards, and it is structured into two departments.

DFYTEK is responsible for identifying, recording, researching, and assessing natural hazards, in cooperation with the General Secretariat for Civil Protection of the Ministry of Citizen Protection, the Ministry of Environment and Energy, and other competent authorities.

Hazards addressed include not only those caused by natural processes (landslides, erosion, seismic activity, volcanic hazards, floods, water-related risks), but also those linked to human activity and technological accidents, which may negatively affect soil, subsoil, and both surface and groundwater.

The Department of Natural Hazards Prevention & Management works closely with the Department of Technological Hazards (TEK) and other units of H.S.G.M.E. to ensure an integrated approach.

Main activities and projects include:

• Landslide Response Plans: Systematic recording, real-time monitoring, mapping of events and impacts, and prioritization of high-risk areas and critical infrastructure.
• Volcanic and Seismic Risk Assessment: Correlation of volcanic activity and active faults in the Pagasitikos Gulf, development of hazard scenarios, and evaluation of risks for urban and industrial areas.
• EUROVOLC: A Horizon 2020 project creating a European network of observatories and research infrastructures for volcanology, aiming to improve monitoring, coordination, and risk assessment methods.
• e-shape: A European initiative (H2020) developing cloud-based applications for water management, disaster resilience, climate monitoring, food security, renewable energy, and ecosystem services.

Read more about the Department of Technological Hazards Prevention & Management (TEK):

Department of Technological Hazards Prevention & Management (TEK)