Municipal crisis management team rehearses for an emergency

The City of Bocholt's Emergency Response Team (SAE) has now carried out an emergency drill at the fire station on Dingdener Straße. As part of a theoretical hazard drill, around 30 participants coordinated the complex procedures involved in a simulated evacuation following a serious accident involving hazardous substances in the city centre. The realistic simulation served to further optimise internal processes for civil protection.

The Bocholt municipal administration is taking precautions and has once again tested the effectiveness of its crisis response structures. The emergency response team gathered at the fire station on Dingdener Straße for an intensive emergency drill. Under the leadership of the Executive Board of the City of Bocholt, experts from various areas of the administration tested how to act quickly and in a coordinated manner in the event of a disaster. A key focus was on crisis communication and the practical organisation of relief measures for the public.

The challenging exercise scenario was developed and supervised by the Institute for Hazard Prevention (IVG) in Ruppichteroth-Reiferscheid. The scenario simulated a serious road accident involving a coach and a lorry carrying liquefied natural gas.

As part of the theoretical proceedings, measures for the complex evacuation of the affected area were discussed, amongst other things; an emergency hotline for residents was also set up, with IVG staff simulating calls from those affected.

"I would like to thank my administrative team and my colleagues on the council for their support", says Mayor Christian Mangen, who also oversaw the exercise in a leading role. "Even though we hope that such a scenario never occurs, the insights gained from the simulation can help us improve our emergency plans."