The state of combat readiness, which included the state apparatus before and during it weather vane “Barbara” largely paid off as there were few problems recorded, especially compared to last year when the country was caught off guard and – quickly – fell into a trap bad weather “Hope”.

Sure, the storm wasn’t as severe this year, but the vigilance was almost… deafening, given the repeated warning messages sent from 112with which the government advised the citizens limit travel to the point of absolute necessity. Something that was probably heard as the streets in central Athens were cold but empty at the same time on Sunday evening – an image that referred to the pandemic. quarantine. There was no snow in the center of the capital at that time, except perhaps in the northernmost part of Attica.

At the same time, the series was announced. meters as regards schools -which remained closed in several regions-, mandatory use of chainsas good as distant work (mandatory in the public sector and optional in the private sector).

Otherwise, employees whose physical presence is required were given the opportunity to come to their work after 10 amwhile in northern suburbs only supermarkets and pharmacies were open, and after 18:00 delivery servicessomething unprecedented.

Also regions And municipalities they were on standby and the snowplows were warming up their engines early. There was vigilance in DADDI.

Monday started with many places dressed in white and the constant hissing sound of a new 112 message on 7:43.

With a difference of a year, we had two cases with heavy snowfall and frost with what it implies for the daily lives of citizens in their private and public spheres.

So, having such a possibility of comparison, we are trying to consider what the state apparatus has learned bad weather “Hope” and what has changed in bad weather barbara.

“White Prison” Hope

In order to make a comparison, it is necessary to precede a brief recollection of the past: “Let’s go back to the past to January 24, 2022when heavy snow began early in the morning and covered the entire basin with white. The picture at first seemed idyllic, but to others 5000 cars who have been locked up for many hours in Attiki Odos there was a lot of anger.

As for those they ran out of power for many hours (or days), but also for those who are trapped many areassince there was no care. In fact, there was no special warning, in addition to EMY emergency weather bulletins. After all, even army forces they were called to help in every possible way.

OUR Bad weather “Hope” lasted from from 23 to 26 January. It mainly affected Attica, Evia, the Cyclades and Crete, bringing with it blizzards and low temperatures – the snowfall reached even 70 points.

The state apparatus was found naked in the snow, especially the first two 24 hours, and followed the carousel for who is responsible…

OUR bad weather barbarianwhich will affect from Sunday (5/2) mainly the eastern and southern regions of the country, continue until wednesday (8/2). As part of Attica basinthe most significant snowfalls occurred mainly in the northernmost regions, while in the central and southern regions they were minimal to zero.

doctor of geology Michalis Diakakisreferring to “K”, indicated that two weather phenomena they were not the same intensity, noting that “when something happens, everyone is more careful – they think “do not go out””. It seems that this year the people and the authorities were more prepared.”

For readiness authorities, Aglaya Sfikaresident of Old Penteli, confirms that vigilance was. “Everyone has been more organized this year,” he tells K, adding, “We have been clearing snow since day one, two or three times, even for those of us who are not on the main road.”

In Nadezhda, he recalls, they were expelled for at least four days, since not a single snowplow passed their path. “Fortunately, we have learned from last year and are better organized at home. The municipality has been giving salt since Saturday and the snow plows have moved right away, but of course the bad weather this year has nothing to do with last year,” he notes.

“A culture of self-defence has developed”

“We are talking about two completely different events – the main feature of last year’s blizzard was that she was alone very short transitionone very intense effect 3-4 hours. A lot of snow fell in a short period of time,” said Epipyragos, a spokesman for the fire department. Ioannis Bakerto add: “Snowfall on one occasion, snowfall on another, but this year the phenomenon is longer, perhaps milder, but with dangerous characteristics.”

In a conversation with “K”, he noted that Barbara’s bad weather “is developing dynamically with ups and downs within 5-6 days. It’s over wide opening of snow in length and width throughout Greece. Last year it hit mainly Attica, and after 2-3 hours everything was closed.”

For controlemphasizes that “a different approach was used, more holistic, synergistic and interoperable“. “The entire civil protection mechanism was actively coordinated under the code name”Northern 2“”.

According to Mr. Artopios, this mechanism has been trained: “More actions have been taken to ensure the cooperation of all departments involved – army, police, fire department, EKAV, DEDDIE (we had power outages and they resumed very quickly)” .

He adds: “Base stations are becoming very effective in small and large incidents thanks to strong distribution of binding snow chains and snow cover. It somehow affected the society, I think it never occurred to our fellow citizens that they would go out without chains, whereas last year they were more careless and frivolous. This year they are more suspicious.”

“I think it had a catalytic effect, there is one a culture of self-defense. And the development of interactivity between the state apparatus and our fellow citizens.”

“The state must function and in extreme conditions»

“We must learn to live with it extreme weather conditions and train the government to work with them in more collaborative models. For the third year in a row, we have experienced simultaneous heavy snowfall in a large part of the country, and especially in areas that are not used to such phenomena,” said State Minister K. Akis Shertsos. He added that “there is a difference in the phenomenon last year and this year. Last year we had more snow in less time and in a smaller area. This year we have a longer phenomenon throughout Attica and in at least 3 regions.”

When asked what has changed in mechanism and planningon behalf of the authorities, responds:

“Now the difference is that we evaluate each severe/dangerous weather system based on the worst case scenario (even if it is ultimately untested) and: