Emergency Preparedness in Italy
Italy is the European country most exposed to natural hazards: earthquakes along the whole peninsula, active volcanoes near large cities, landslides and floods almost every year. Its Civil Protection service is among the most experienced in the world, and since 2024 it can send alerts directly to mobile phones. This page explains the essentials in English for residents, students, workers and visitors.
Emergency numbers
- 112 Single emergency number, in service in most regions, with multilingual operators
- 113 Police, 115 Fire brigade, 118 Ambulance. These older numbers still work.
- 1530 Coast guard, emergencies at sea
How you will be warned
IT-alert: alerts on your mobile phone
- IT-alert is the national public warning system. It sends a message with a loud sound to every phone that is switched on and connected to the mobile network in the affected area.
- It uses cell broadcast. It is one-way, does not use the internet and involves no exchange of personal data. You do not register.
- It has been in operation since 13 February 2024 for four kinds of event: nuclear or radiological emergencies, major accidents at industrial plants, the collapse of a large dam, and volcanic activity at Campi Flegrei, Vesuvius and the island of Vulcano.
- It has also been tested for tsunamis caused by earthquakes, volcanic activity at Stromboli and intense rainfall.
- When it arrives: follow the instructions in the message.
IT-alert is not sent for earthquakes, which cannot be predicted. For those, what counts is knowing in advance what to do. See Earthquakes.
Weather alerts
- Civil Protection and the regions issue weather and flood alerts in three colours: yellow (allerta gialla), orange (arancione) and red (rossa). Municipalities decide measures such as closing schools and parks.
Your municipality
- Every municipality has a civil protection plan with the waiting areas and escape routes for its residents. Ask your town hall (Comune) where yours are.
What to have at home
Italy's national campaign "Io non rischio" (I don't take risks) teaches what to do before, during and after an earthquake, flood, tsunami, volcanic eruption or wildfire. It does not set a fixed number of days. The reference is the European Union's recommendation of at least 72 hours:
- Drinking water and food that needs no cooking
- A battery radio, flashlight, spare batteries and a power bank
- Your regular medicines and a first aid kit
- Copies of documents and some cash
- Sturdy shoes and a flashlight by the bed in earthquake areas
- A family plan: where to meet and who to call
Work out the amounts with our kit calculator and see the 72-hour kit on a budget and Make a Plan.
Main risks to prepare for
- Earthquakes, across most of the country
- Volcanic eruptions: Campi Flegrei and Vesuvius near Naples, Etna, Stromboli and Vulcano
- Floods and landslides
- Tsunamis on the southern coasts
- Wildfires, heatwaves and drought
Words you will see and hear
- IT-alert: the mobile alert system
- Protezione Civile: Civil Protection
- Allerta gialla, arancione, rossa: yellow, orange, red alert
- Io non rischio: the national good-practice campaign
- Terremoto: earthquake
- Alluvione: flood
- Frana: landslide
- Area di attesa: waiting area, the meeting point in the municipal plan
- Vigili del fuoco: fire brigade
- Comune: municipality, town hall
Official information
- IT-alert: official site
- Civil Protection Department, in English
- Io non rischio: what to do before, during and after
See emergency preparedness in other European countries.
Sources
- Lombardy Region: IT-alert, the national public warning system (Italian)
- Geopop: IT-alert operational for four specific risks (Italian)
Independent educational summary, not an official publication. Always follow instructions from Italian authorities. Last reviewed: November 2026.