The Short-Term Countermeasures System of the Italian National Fire Service for post-earthquake response

After a major earthquake, the system for emergency management is activated. As part
of a bigger effort involving other organizations, the Italian National Fire Service sets
up a system for the management of the short-term countermeasures, called Short-Term
Countermeasures System (STCS).The STCS contributes to coping with the emergency,
providing a quick characterization of the emergency scenario and realizing short-term
countermeasures to secure hazardous situations. This paper illustrates the background
and the processes that led to the creation of the STCS, and delineates the procedures
and methodologies adopted for the STCS operations. Finally, the paper shows the
results obtained by STCS upon applying the procedures to a full-scale exercise and to
national and international seismic emergencies. © 2016-OGS.