Paolo Cazzola awarded Lombardy's Premio Zamberletti for civil protection service

Paolo Cazzola, the founder and president of the Nucleo Mobile di Pronto Intervento (Nmpi) of Varese, has been awarded the Premio Zamberletti 2026. This is the highest regional honor in the civil protection sector, presented by the Lombardy Region.

The award ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, September 20, at the Idroscalo in Milan during Civil Protection Day. The honor will be presented by Regional President Attilio Fontana and the Regional Security Assessor.

Cazzola was selected in the individual category following a candidacy by the Mayor of Porto Ceresio, Marco Prestifilippo. The recognition highlights Cazzola’s organizational model, which integrates operational readiness with local government collaboration and a strong focus on youth training. Since its founding in 1994, the Nmpi has provided educational programs for students as young as 14, many of whom have transitioned into adult volunteers. The association has participated in numerous major Italian emergencies, including the 1994 Alessandria floods, various earthquakes in central Italy, and the recent pandemic.