Disaster Preparedness on the "Last Mile"

Authors: Klaus Reicherter (RWTH Aachen), Torsten Schlurmann (Leibniz Universität Hannover)

Findings of the First Fact Finding Mission (FFM) in the Living Lab Kalamata, Greece

Within the framework of the joint DAM research project MultiMarex, the first Fact Finding Mission to Kalamata, Greece, took place from March 31st to April 4th, under the joint leadership of Prof. Klaus Reicherter, Prof. Nicole Richter (RWTH Aachen University), and Prof. Torsten Schlurmann (Leibniz University Hannover). The primary focus was on initiating discussions with local decision-makers and subordinate administrative units regarding the development of building blocks for effective disaster risk reduction in the context of marine hazards. Furthermore, knowledge and experiences about hazard situations and past extreme events were exchanged, and local geodata in the urban area and adjacent coastal stretches were collected on-site by a scientific team from RWTH Aachen University and Leibniz University Hannover. In addition, in-depth coordination of the collaboration with the National Observatory of Athens (NOA) and members of the Hellenic Tsunami Warning Centre, Dr. Eleni Daskalaki und Dr. Nikos Kalligeris as well as with the Agricultural University of Athens, Prof. Ioannis Papanikolaou was agreed upon to ensure close integration with Greek scientists within the project and through direct exchange with the city of Kalamata.

Exchanges and consultation with the city authorities of Kalamata Deputy Mayor for Strategic Planning and Climate Neutrality, Vassilis Papaefstathiou. © Gina Marava

The port city of Kalamata, situated on the southwest coast of the Peloponnese peninsula and home to approximately 70,000 inhabitants, serves as the economic and cultural centre of the Messenia region, which was struck by a severe earthquake (6.0 Moment Magnitude) on September 13th, 1986, resulting in significant damage to the cityscape and numerous injuries and fatalities. Besides the threat posed by earthquakes and tsunamis, the region is regularly affected by flash floods and storm surges and is characterized by ongoing coastal erosion throughout the entire bay. Against this backdrop, Kalamata, alongside the island of Santorini, recently marked by persistent seismic activity, is one of two locations within the MultiMarex joint project designated for the development of a transdisciplinary Living Lab. In connection with the UNESCO-IOC program "Tsunami Ready," both Living Labs are intended to be further developed in the med-term through the interaction between scientific and non-scientific actors and strengthened in disaster preparedness. The UNESCO-IOC program envisions the fulfilment of a 10-indicator plan that successively addresses the areas of assessment, preparation, and response to marine hazards, preparing for the effective mitigation of risks and losses together with decision-makers on the "last mile."

Joint geodata collection (RWTH & LUH) in the urbanized centre of Kalamata © Torsten Schlurmann

To achieve this goal, Letters of Intent (LoI) were signed by both parties, and furthermore, the MultiMarex project was presented, and initial findings on paleo-tsunami investigations in the Peloponnese were introduced at a small colloquium held at the Agricultural University of Athens. In the city of Kalamata, numerous discussions and trusting coordination meetings were conducted under the leadership of the Deputy Mayor for Strategic Planning and Climate Neutrality, Vassilis Papaefstathiou, as well as other representatives from the areas of civil protection, port administration, the tourism association, water supply and disposal, and the coast guard. During the stay, disaster protection measures and an evacuation exercise were also observed. The geodata collected on-site provides a valuable basis for the validation of digital models and, moreover, supplies important information for the initiation of tsunami modelling.

Urbanisized and densely populated coastal stretch of Kalamata, Messinian Gulf, Greece © Torsten Schlurmann

Overall, it was a very successful start that has laid the foundation for further cooperation, which will be continued with a reciprocal visit by representatives of the city of Kalamata, NOA, and the Agricultural and National University of Athens to the MultiMarex annual meeting at RWTH Aachen University at the end of May 2025.