This is the fifth exercise conducted by LOT2 MODEX Consortium within Cycle 11. The aim of the module field exercise is to give the opportunity to water-related modules and capacities to have a functional exercise at European level, according to Union Civil Protection policies and procedures.
The first wave of flood culmination was caused by heavy rainfall in mid-August, which raised the water level in the upper Vistula River basin. The second wave of flood culmination was caused by heavy rainfall at the end of August and the beginning of September. As a result, water levels again exceeded alarm levels in the upper Vistula and Oder River basins, and floods occurred in the southern part of Lesser Poland and the Podkarpacie region. Water flooded Jaslo, Sandomierz, Tarnobrzeg and many towns and municipalities in the Małopolskie, Podkarpackie, Świętokrzyskie and Lubelskie voivodeships, among others. Dikes on the Vistula River have been breached in the Małopolskie Voivodeship (Szczurowa commune and Szczucin commune), Podkarpackie Voivodeship (Tarnobrzeg), Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (Tarłów commune), Lubelskie Voivodeship (Wilków commune and Janowiec commune). Further landslides have occurred. The flood wave is currently moving north along the Vistula and Oder riverbeds. The passage of the flood wave in the vicinity of Warsaw is expected on 5-8 September.
EU Assistance will be requested through UCPM, following the consequences of the weather conditions. Participating modules from six countries will put their skills to jointly cooperate in a scenario of significant water-related incidents, in an EU nation. The accepted modules are expected to arrive on 5th of September, in the morning.
The exercise will start on 5th of September and will end on 8th of September 2023. The exercise staff will arrive on 4th of September and will have the internal briefings and build up the exercise control structures. This water-related exercise hosted by Poland will benefit of the participation of 6 specialized modules from 6 countries: Austria (FC), Belgium (FRB), Croatia (FRB), Czech Republic (FRB), Finland (HCP) and Ukraine (HCP).
All the teams will put their skills, protocols and gear to the test, but the most important thing will be seeing how well they can coordinate with one another in the field.
* FC: Flood Containment Module; FRB: Flood Rescue Using Boats Module; HCP: High Capacity Pumping Module
The international modules arrived in the affected area.
Part of the modules team members are installing their BoO (Base of Operations) and the others were tasked to assess the working sites, to draw up a joint plan of action and start the field operations.
Mission mood - it was a very challenging day for the modules. From searching and rescue people in flooded areas, pumping water and reinforcing the embankment, the modules were working hard to prove their skills and test their capabilities.
Based on the results of the field operations, it was clear that by performing join missions, the modules were able to complete the task received from the local authorities.
Nowy Dwor Mazowiecki municipality proved to be a perfect location to test the capabilities of the international modules deployed in Poland to support the local authorities during the floods. For three days, Vistula and Narew rivers were the scene of continuous activities of pumping water, evacuating and rescuing people from the affected areas, as well as protecting the rivers banks, keeping the wave of flood under control. The Base of Operation was established inside the beautiful walls of Modlin Fortress, just 40 km away from the capital, Warsaw.
With the great support of our hosts, Polish State Fire Service and Fire University of Poland, the Consortium successfully managed to deliver a realistic environment to test the international modules in a water related exercise. Many thanks to everyone involved in organizing the EU MODEX NEW WAVE POLAND 2023.
