Cross-border EMRIC exercise in Heinsberg
On Saturday 21 March, together with the Kreis Heinsberg, we organized a large-scale international emergency exercise in Gangelt, near the German-Dutch border.
It was a realistic exercise in which emergency services from Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium had to work together, with personnel, vehicles and command structures deployed on site. In total, approximately 630 responders and 50 role players took part.
The scenario was based on a serious traffic accident involving a hazardous materials truck, a coach and several passenger cars. Dozens of people were injured and a chemical substance was released. The situation evolved rapidly, with a risk of further spread and increasing pressure on emergency response. It quickly became clear that the situation could not be managed with solely local or regional resources.
Therefore, the exercise focused on the application of the EMRIC agreements for rapid cross-border assistance. At the strategic level, requests for assistance, communication and coordination structures, as well as joint decision-making between the countries involved were tested. Participating partners also worked on a number of their own exercise objectives.
The exercise will be thoroughly evaluated. The findings will be included in a final report and, where necessary, will lead to adjustments of existing agreements and procedures. In this way, we are step by step strengthening cooperation and preparedness for cross-border incidents.
