Crisis plan in Coburg: Dammbruch scenario as a real test!

Von Markus Schneiderling

Neustadt an der Weinstraße erlebte ein Krisenplanspiel zur Dammbruch-Simulation, betont Zusammenarbeit und effektive Kommunikation.
Neustadt an der Weinstraße experienced a crisis plan game for the dam broken simulation, emphasized cooperation and effective communication. (Symbolbild/ANAG)

On March 26, 2025, a comprehensive crisis plan was held in the Coburg district, which put the cooperation of all the crisis forces involved. The scenario encompassed a dam break, which was triggered by extreme heavy rain events in the cities of Rödental and Neustadt near Coburg. This exercise aimed to test the responsiveness and coordination of the emergency services under pressure.

As part of the business game, evacuations in the affected areas of Froschgrund and Rödental were necessary, while the population in Neustadt had to be brought to safety due to increasing river level. The function of communication was emphasized throughout the process as crucial for success in crisis situations. District Administrator Sebastian Straubel mentioned the importance of such exercises for the interaction of everyone involved.

participants and their role

The crisis plan played a variety of participants. A total of 54 people were involved in the exercise, including local mayors, the integrated control center Coburg, various fire brigade associations, the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB), the Bavarian Red Cross (BRK), the police, the technical relief organization (THW), the Kreiswasserwacht and the Bundeswehr. Karsten Herold, the local operations manager, praised the high proximity of reality and the good cooperation during the exercise.

Mayor Frank Rebhan von Neustadt described the business game as educational and emphasized the valuable cooperation under the difficult conditions. Rödental Mayor Marco Steiner emphasized that this exercise had illustrated the need to regularly update existing measures.

The importance of resilience

In the middle of such crisis scenarios, resilience is of crucial importance. According to Böll , the current worldwide situation shows that the willingness to coping with crisis is closely associated with the solidarity of the population and the trust in state institutions. Corona pandemic has shown countless weaknesses in the areas of health and education and illustrated the importance of long infrastructures for participation and general interest. The ability to adapt to changes is also considered a measure of resilience.

democracies that are able to learn and adapt are seen as part of the coping process. This indicates that regular crisis management strategies, as they are also addressed in Safereaach , require an ongoing review and adaptation. A culture of resilience in organizations in particular wants to use and promote experiences.

In summary, it can be said that the crisis plan in the district of Coburg was not only an important preparation for potential emergencies, but also the realization that continuous learning and open communication are central to every crisis management strategy. The previous exercise has laid a valuable basis for future challenges and emphasized the need to proactively address sudden changes.

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