The Italian Red Cross in its strategic objectives includes that of community preparedness and response to emergencies and disasters nationally and internationally through community training and the development of an equally effective and timely disaster response mechanism. Systematic emergency and disaster management begins with preparation to an action conducted by volunteers and organized and trained staff, as well as with the planning and implementation of activities aimed at reducing the risk of disasters and emergencies, also encouraging the adoption of behavioral and environmental measures, useful for preventing and reducing the community vulnerability.
The CRI Committee of Gallarate in this context it carries out multiple activities every year within the territory and beyond national borders. At the Gallarate headquarters, Massimo Quaglio (Emergency Objective delegate), with Giulia Ferri (SOL contact person, Local Operations Room), took stock of the situation (photo at the bottom).
During 2023, the activities carried out byStrategic objective Emergency under the guidance of Massimo Quaglio there have been many, from reorganization of the warehouse at the modification of the working group already existing since 2020, in relation to the number of shifts carried out, from logistical support to regional first aid competitionheld in Volandia, al logistical and material support for emergencies a Lisanza (28 May) atexercise locally in Vizzola Ticino (10 June).
As regards major emergencies and natural disasters, the Committee has taken action toTuscany emergency and for the Emilia Romagna emergency. He also made trips with Npi Pero Coe Avezzano and Cone Roma for theUkraine emergency. In 2024, specifically on the weekend of April 13 and 14, he was busy the Training camp in Somma Lombardoin collaboration with the Civil Protection of Gallarate, Vizzola Ticino, Somma Lombardo, the “Nice to meet You” dog association, ARI RE Lombardia Group.
Over the previous years, in particular during 2022, the Emergency Area volunteers have been engaged in coordination and assembly of the Opsa camp at Lake Monate and in exercises at provincial level in Maccagno, in Malpensa in collaboration with AAT Varese and at the “Leonardo” company. In 2021 the activities were even more challenging, also in the context of the emergency: the volunteers took care of the transfer of COVID positive passengers from Orio airport to the various Covid Hotels in the region, they provided healthcare and assistance to the population at the Vaccination HUBs in the province and in the region and have lent their help in the management of vaccinations COVID for the CAS of Tradate.
Massimo Quaglio, Emergency Objective delegate: «I have been in the Red Cross in Gallarate since 1984 and I strongly believe in young people. My job is to convey them skills and passion, so that our work is for the benefit of the population.” Giulia Ferri, SOL representative: «In recent years, we have also added that of support for the search for missing persons, in collaboration with the Fire Brigade and the Dog Units”. They attended the presentation Pietro Orlandi (Civil Protection Gallarate), Giampaolo Gorlini and Roberto Sanna (Somma Lombardo Civil Protection).
The president Monica Trotta: «In four years from 2020 to today, the CRI Committee has grown in its response to the emergency. An important collaboration with Civil Protection is emerging. The School Camp involved approximately 70 volunteers and we also activated one collaboration with the Legnano Red Cross. As you can understand, the key word for these activities is synergy. Thanks to these synergies, the talents, abilities and aptitudes of each volunteer are discovered and enhanced the younger ones. Suffice it to say that the children involved in the Emergency School Camp are between 20 and 26 years old. Our goal is to go to the schools with these projects, in collaboration with Prociv, because our activity in the area is aimed at the community and the ultimate common goal is the good of our territory”.
