This paper analyses decision-making in a multi-level governance (MLG) framework in the case of emergency and recovery from an earthquake arising the Emilia-Romagna Region in Italy in 2012. It shows that learning and adaptation may be key elements of the policy process in such a context. In addition, while the literature on emergency and recovery has focused attention on two levels in MLG, namely the national and local ones, this paper shows the importance of intermediate levels of government, here the regional one.