The awareness and information initiative aims at increasing public knowledge and understanding of the Municipal Civil Protection Plan and the main risks affecting the local territory.
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Itinerant Civil Protection
General Information
Civil Protection Division – Emergency Management and Safety of the City of Turin
The project titled “Itinerant Civil Protection” (Protezione Civile Intinerante), supported by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Torino, aims to strengthen the dissemination of Civil Protection culture within the community through actions carried out across the entire municipal territory. It seeks to inform and raise awareness among the population about the risks that could affect the City of Turin, while also encouraging citizens to register for a personalized alert communication system. In addition, the initiative promotes participation in the Municipal Civil Protection Volunteer Group, fostering active civic engagement in emergency preparedness and response.
In Italy, the Mayor, as the Territorial Authority for Civil Protection, is responsible—pursuant to Article 12, paragraph 5, letter b) of the Italian Civil Protection Code (Legislative Decree No. 1 of 2 January 2018)—for ensuring that the Municipality carries out public information activities on risk scenarios, Civil Protection planning, and hazard situations arising from natural events or human activities. Furthermore, the aforementioned Code establishes the principle of the citizen’s right and duty to self-protection. In this regard, under Article 31 of the Code, the components of the National Civil Protection Service, within their respective competencies, provide citizens with information on risk scenarios and on the organization of Civil Protection services in their territory. This is also intended to enable individuals to adopt self-protection measures in emergency situations, during which they are required to comply with the instructions issued by Civil Protection authorities, in accordance with planning provisions. At the local level of the City of Turin, this is reflected in the Municipal Civil Protection Plan, and in particular in the “Self-protection measures for citizens in emergencies” included in Annex 8 of the Plan.
Hazard Type
Geographical Scope - Nuts
Geographical Scope
Population Size
Population Density
Needs Addressed
The initiative addresses the limited public awareness of the role of the municipal Civil Protection system and local risk scenarios. It aims to improve citizens’ understanding of emergency services and preparedness measures in order to strengthen community resilience. To reach a wider audience, it uses decentralized municipal offices and public spaces such as local markets as key points for information dissemination.
The initiative is directly implemented by the Municipal Civil Protection Department and the City of Turin’s Municipal Civil Protection Volunteer Group.
This initiative is organized as a response-focused awareness action, meaning it is designed to directly support citizens in understanding how to react in emergency situations and how the local Civil Protection system operates.
The purpose of engagement in this initiative is to actively involve citizens in building awareness of local risks and the functioning of the Civil Protection system. It aims to move beyond simple information delivery by encouraging direct interaction, dialogue, and participation.
The initiative uses direct, community-based engagement methods designed to make Civil Protection information accessible and easy to understand for the general public. Key methods include face-to-face information points set up in public spaces such as municipal offices and local markets, where citizens can receive guidance on risks, emergency planning, and self-protection measures. It also relies on outreach activities carried out by Civil Protection staff and volunteers, who provide explanations, distribute informational materials, and answer questions directly.
The initiative has a moderate to high level of influence, as it significantly raises citizens’ awareness and preparedness, but a low level of decision-making, since all content and implementation choices are defined by the Municipal Civil Protection Department and the Volunteer Group.
The initiative supports capacity building and long-term empowerment by improving citizens’ understanding of local risks, emergency procedures, and self-protection measures. Through clear and accessible information, it strengthens individual preparedness and practical knowledge on how to respond in emergency situations.
Vulnerable Groups
Governance
Emergency Preparedness
Infrastructure Readiness
Engagement Level
Empowerment Level
Implementation
The initiative is characterized by a strong community-based and outreach-oriented approach, bringing Civil Protection information directly to citizens through public spaces such as municipal offices and local markets. It combines institutional communication with on-the-ground presence to ensure wide accessibility and inclusiveness. A key feature is the integration of Civil Protection staff and trained volunteers, enabling direct interaction, dialogue, and trust-building with the population.
Italian.
The implementing organisations are the Municipal Civil Protection Department of the City of Turin, which leads and coordinates the initiative, and the Municipal Civil Protection Volunteer Group, which supports its operational delivery through outreach and direct engagement activities with the public.
As the municipal authority responsible for emergency planning, risk prevention, and response coordination, it has long-standing expertise in managing local hazards, developing Civil Protection plans, and conducting public awareness and preparedness activities. This experience is complemented by the Municipal Civil Protection Volunteer Group, which contributes practical operational capacity and community-level engagement, strengthening the overall effectiveness of DRRM actions across the territory.
The actors involved in the initiative are the Municipal Civil Protection Department of the City of Turin and the Municipal Civil Protection Volunteer Group, with additional support from the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Torino as an external funding partner.
The initiative requires human resources from the Civil Protection Department and volunteers, organizational capacity for coordination and planning, basic logistical resources such as informational materials and access to public spaces for outreach activities, as well as external funding, which supports communication activities, materials production, and the overall implementation of outreach actions.
Experience of the Implementing Organisation in DRM
Target Audience
Resources Required
Timeframe & Phases
Participation Results
A key challenge was the need to support citizens during the registration process for the municipal Civil Protection online alert system, ensuring accessibility and ease of use, particularly for less digitally experienced users.
Risk & Mitigation Plan
Scalability and Sustainability
The initiative is sustained through a public service–based model, led by the Municipal Civil Protection Department and supported by the Municipal Civil Protection Volunteer Group. Its continuity is ensured by institutional integration within existing municipal functions, rather than reliance on time-limited projects. Additional financial support from external partners, such as the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Torino, contributes to covering communication and outreach costs.
The initiative is scalable as the support model for citizen registration to the municipal Civil Protection alert system can be replicated across different public access points and extended to a larger population without significant structural changes. Its approach is adaptable because assistance can be tailored to users with varying levels of digital literacy, ensuring inclusiveness. The same methodology can also be transferred to other municipalities using similar online alert platforms.
The initiative relies on a basic but functional use of digital technology, primarily through the municipal online alert registration platform for Civil Protection communications. Technology is used to enable citizens to subscribe to real-time emergency alerts and receive risk-related information. However, its role remains supportive rather than central.