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A red high-capacity water pumping machine marked ‘Pompieri’ is positioned at the edge of a reservoir, ready to start pumping

EU MODEX Romania tests flood response

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When massive flooding overwhelms the capacity of a country to cope, how do international teams come to offer assistance? EU modules field exercises create realistic scenarios that test and train specialised teams to be ready for real-life emergencies.

By Knowledge Network – Staff member

The latest EU MODEX field exercise was in Sibiu, Romania and replicated a major flood causing risk to life and critical infrastructure. Flood response modules from Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Moldova, and Romania were tested day and night over two days, on assessment and coordination procedures, emergency medical interventions, search and rescue of flood affected people and long distance water pumping. It was a stimulating and realistic scenario that confirmed their ability to deploy rapidly in flood emergencies when they occur.

“The exercise is really realistic: we have floods in several places, the roads are closing and then reopening, the role players know what they are doing and really challenge us!

This is a good challenge and we will gain a lot information and will improve afterwards. I am sure that everything we learned here we will take back to our teams.”

Participant Nicole Bischoff, Deputy Team Leader of the German high-capacity pumping module

The exercise scenario was fast-moving and complex:

  • Heavy rains have caused massive flooding, and the government has required international assistance from the EU for search and rescue, treatment of victims, water purification and flood control.
  • As the water level rises, a flood wave forms upstream in a river and several villages are flooded or totally isolated. Emergency intervention is needed, and lives are at risk.
  • Casualties are reported in the flood area. Teams are deployed to assess the situation and launch rescue operations, and emergency medical services arrive on the scene. The local authorities, and emergency services prepare to evacuate people to temporary shelter, some by using boats.
  • The heavy rains mean a dam is at risk, threatening to flood more villages and damage the water supply. The teams must pump water – over a distance of 2km - to decrease the level of the reservoir to safe levels.

Carlo Vanzini is the Module Focal Point for the high-capacity pumping module from Austria: As Carlo says in his video: “As usual this MODEX exercise was a great learning opportunity for us and for everyone else including the modules on site, the international forces, national forces, everybody involved.

The opportunity to learn, to cooperate, to communicate is unique in this set-up and will help us all to fulfil our mission in a much better way in the future.”

Carlo Vanzini, Module Focal Point, high-capacity pumping module Austria with his take on the exercise.

EU modules field exercises give modules - specialist equipment needed in response to disasters, with the individuals and teams using them - the opportunity to train at the European level, applying Union Civil Protection Mechanism policies and procedures.

Visit our News and Stories section for more reports from other UCPM MODEX and full-scale exercises.

A search and rescue team work at night, grouped around a flood victim who is strapped into an evacuation harness ready to be moved to receive additional medical care.jpg
Field exercises run day and night to replicate the real-life situations that emergency teams face.

About the author

The Knowledge Network – Staff member

The Knowledge Network editorial team is here to share the news and stories of the Knowledge Network community. We'd love to hear your news, events and personal stories about your life in civil protection and disaster risk management. If you've got a story to share, please contact us.