The climate crisis is making the need for better preparedness for natural disasters ever more urgent. Effective protection is not just about the moment an extreme event occurs. It begins much earlier, with awareness, knowledge and prevention; it continues with a timely and organised response; and it is completed by supporting people and rebuilding affected communities.
For Ydrogeios Insurance, prevention lies at the heart of its mission: it is not limited solely to its insurance work, but takes on a broader social dimension through initiatives that strengthen the preparedness, protection and resilience of local communities.
With this in mind, Ydrogeios Insurance and the Reale Foundation – the charitable foundation of the Reale Group, of which Hydrogeios Insurance is a member – support a comprehensive framework of actions covering all stages of natural disaster management: from prevention and preparedness to immediate response and recovery.
What is the 72-hour rule? What should an emergency kit contain, and what is the safest thing to do during an earthquake?
This approach is particularly evident in the restoration of the community centre in Glinos, Trikala.
The floods caused by Storm Daniel in Thessaly resulted in the destruction of the village’s community centre, a place where residents would meet and socialise.
Emfasis Non-Profit, with the support of the Reale Foundation and Ydrogeios Insurance, undertook the complete renovation of the space, returning it to the residents as a hub for social interaction, cultural activities and community life.
The opening of the venue, which took place on 21 September, was attended by representatives of the funding and supporting organisations (Ydrogios & Reale Foundation), implementation partners (Emfasis & other volunteer collaborators) as well as representatives from the local authority, celebrated the venue’s new ‘life’.
Recovery, however, is only one aspect of the overall management of natural disasters. Prevention is just as important: timely information, knowledge and systematic preparation help people and communities to respond more effectively to a crisis.
After all, we cannot always predict a natural disaster, but we can always be well prepared. Preparedness is the most powerful tool we have in the face of any crisis – which is why it needs to be done properly.
By investing over the long term in prevention, protection and community resilience, Hydrogeios Insurance and the Reale Foundation have supported the creation of a Crisis Management Guide.
This practical handbook on preparing for and responding to natural disasters and emergencies was designed by Emfasis in collaboration with TÜV Austria, a leading accredited body in crisis management and business continuity.
What is the 72-hour rule? What should an emergency kit contain, and what is the safest thing to do during an earthquake?
This is, amongst other things, the information contained in the guide, together with practical instructions for each stage individually, useful tools for an immediate and effective response, advice on how to protect ourselves, our animals and our property, as well as guidance on building a resilient community.
You can read the guide in full here.
The Guide’s remarkable initiative is not limited to its availability.
Through the Prevent & Act programme, supported by the Reale Foundation, the Emfasis Team is ‘bringing the Guide to life’ through training sessions, awareness-raising activities and local initiatives across Greece.
The aim is for this guide not to be merely a manual, but for the knowledge it contains to spread to every neighbourhood and become part of people’s everyday lives.
The awareness-raising activities are aimed at everyone, with a particular focus on groups that are most in need of preparation, such as the elderly, carers, people with chronic illnesses, single-parent families, as well as school pupils and residents of remote areas.
Immediate response with Emfasis First Response:
Infrastructure restoration, public education, and the empowerment of local communities: the partnership between Ydrogeios Insurance and the Reale Foundation with Emfasis is evolving into a comprehensive intervention model with a significant impact.
The Emfasis First Response programme, which has been running for the past seven years with the support of Ydrogios Insurance, funds volunteer training and initiatives to tackle extreme weather events and natural disasters, with the aim of providing immediate relief to those affected, particularly vulnerable groups within the population.
At the same time, Ydrogios Insurance has provided premises free of charge to house the organisation’s Supply Management Centre, which plays a pivotal role in its operations. For example, in 2025, through these initiatives, 22,600 kilograms of essential supplies were distributed, 230 volunteers and students were trained, and support programmes were implemented for people affected by natural disasters and extreme weather events.
Resilience, after all, is not built in times of crisis. It is built day by day, through systematic preparation, cooperation and care, and the substantial, valuable support of people and organisations that invest in it.
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