PSI - Issue 78

Silvia Santarelli et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 78 (2026) 333–340

339

• Family composition: The presence of children, the elderly, or people with special needs (e.g., disabilities, chronic illnesses) requires the addition of specific items (diapers, medications, mobility aids). • Individual skills: Those with bushcraft or survival skills might want to add specific tools. Optimization criteria for assembling the kit include: • Lightness and compactness: Each component must be as light and compact as possible to facilitate transport, especially in walking evacuation situations. • Multifunctionality: Prefer tools that can perform multiple tasks (e.g., a multi-tool knife instead of several separate tools). • Durability and reliability: Choose quality products that can withstand adverse conditions. • Ease of use: Components must be intuitive and usable even under stress. • Validity and maintenance: Regularly check expiration dates of food and medicine and verify the functioning of batteries and equipment. Regarding costs, creating a complete kit can vary widely. A basic, functional but essential kit can be low-cost, accessible to many families. However, adding high-quality components, advanced electronic devices, or specific items for particular needs can significantly increase the cost. It's important to view this as an investment in personal and family safety, rather than a one-time expense, and to plan the purchase of modules over time to distribute the financial burden. Promoting resource sharing at the community level can also help reduce individual costs. 7. Conclusions and future developments Community resilience is an ongoing, multifaceted process demanding a shared commitment from institutions, organizations, and citizens. Our analysis underscores the critical role of individual and collective preparedness in mitigating seismic impacts, particularly the ability to self-organize and be self-sufficient for the initial 72 hours. Adopting functional emergency kits is a tangible step toward strengthening this resilience. Future efforts should concentrate on several key areas. These include extensive education and awareness campaigns, with intensified training and information programs at all societal levels, especially for schools and vulnerable populations. There's also a need for research and innovation to develop new, more efficient, lightweight, and affordable emergency kits. Network integration is vital for enhancing critical infrastructure resilience, particularly transport and communication networks, through targeted investments and innovative solutions. Furthermore, creating collaborative digital and physical platforms will foster information, resource, and skill exchange within and among communities. Policy and incentives at European and national levels should support emergency kit purchases, local civil protection plan implementation, and volunteer program participation. Finally, regularly organizing realistic drills and simulations involving both authorities and the public will help test plan effectiveness and pinpoint areas for improvement by simulating complex scenarios. Ultimately, building resilient communities is more than a technical or logistical undertaking; it's an ethical and social imperative. It involves investing in human capital and social relationships, recognizing that a community's true strength lies in its collective ability to confront adversity, transforming it into a catalyst for greater solidarity and progress. References Ainuddin, S., Suriyachan, C., Aruninta, A., Aldrich, D., Sher Mohammad, A., 2024. Community-level risk awareness and disaster preparedness: an exploratory investigation of Quetta, Balochistan. Int. J. Disaster Resil. Built Environ. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJDRBE-05-2024-0058 Borzi, B., Ceresa, P., Franchin, P., Noto, F., Calvi, G.M., Pinto, P.E., 2015. Seismic Vulnerability of the Italian Roadway Bridge Stock. Earthq. Spectra 31, 2137 – 2161. https://doi.org/10.1193/070413EQS190M Bozza, S., Fasan, M., Noè, S., 2023. Vulnerability to traffic loads of typical Italian bridges in relation to the evolution of the code framework. ce/papers 6, 760 – 767. https://doi.org/10.1002/cepa.2038 Comfort, L.K., 2007. Crisis management in hindsight: Cognition, communication, coordination, and control. Public Adm. Rev. 67, 189 – 197. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2007.00827.x