Violent winds and heavy rain have killed more than 30 people around Italy in November. In the northern region of Veneto, damage estimates have reached over one billion euros, and several villages have been cut off as a result of landslides. "It's like after an earthquake," said the President of the Veneto region and ECR Member, Luca Zaia.  

 After flying over the area with Italy's Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, Mr Zaia said that the storms had destroyed 100 000 hectares of pine forest in all. "Thousands of hectares of forest were razed to the ground, as if with a giant electric saw", he said.

 Roberto Ciambetti, another ECR Member and President of the Veneto Regional Council, added that around 300 000 trees were flattened after winds swept through the Val d'Assa in the Asiago plateau. "Tens of thousands of tall trees were felled like toothpicks," he noted.

 The recovery process in Veneto is progressing quickly thanks to solidarity among its inhabitants and from private companies, who have provided practical help and donated large sums of money to speed up the process.

 "For weeks thousands of volunteers, technicians, workers and professionals, along with ordinary citizens, have been working to restore normality to our region affected by the natural disasters. We are showing wonderful solidarity. I express gratitude to those who are helping us: my gratitude and that of all people from Veneto. On this occasion, we are also proving that we are great people", said Mr Zaia.

 Approximately 95% of first responses to disasters are led by local people. That is why the ECR Group has argued in all of its past position papers that a local approach is key to increasing the resilience of European cities and regions.