Dramatic exercise in Cuxhaven: train accident and fire shake Hapag halls

Dramatic exercise in Cuxhaven: train accident and fire shake Hapag halls

Impressive district preparedness exercises took place in Cuxhaven on Saturday, October 25, 2025, which put the coordination and efficiency of emergency services to the test. Under the leadership of Ingo Graf, who was recently replaced by Meik Kramer, 187 emergency services took part in this large-scale training, which served to sharpen operational readiness for various crisis scenarios. These exercises are an elementary part of crisis management in order to train employees and managers in dealing with emergencies and to consistently test processes krisen-und-notfallmanagement.de highlights.

The participants were accommodated in the city center of Cuxhaven, specifically in the Hapag halls, where the central coordination took place. On the day of the exercise, the weather was characterized by rain and gusts of wind, which made the conditions even more difficult for the emergency services. However, this challenge did not dampen the enthusiasm of the 187 emergency services: they were equipped with 36 vehicles from the volunteer and professional fire brigade and 32 vehicles from the DRK.

Versatile practice scenarios

A central scenario of the exercise was the simulated train accident in which a van collided with a train. Two people were trapped and several were injured. The emergency services must ensure human rescue, fire protection and medical care for those affected. Such exercises are important not only to ensure smooth cooperation, but also to prepare for the diverse challenges, such as the risk of a fire on a company premises or a boat collision with hazardous substances, which in this case was simulated by popcorn.

Loud cnv-medien.de As part of the exercises, smooth communication and the correct processes between the various aid organizations were also rehearsed. The DRK preparedness took care of supplying the emergency services, which was particularly important given the adverse weather conditions.

Focus on crisis management

The importance of crisis exercises cannot be underestimated. They not only help individuals gain routine, but also identify weaknesses in the system and correct possible communication problems in a timely manner. Regular exercises are essential to increase the efficiency of the emergency services and to adapt to changing threats, as the police spokesman has emphasized in similar exercises. Large-scale tactical training sessions were recently held in Hanover and Celle that were precisely tailored to such extreme situations in order to test the cooperation between the authorities.

The scenarios varied from a complex attack on a public event in Hanover to a simulated attack on a bus in Celle. A joint exercise between Lower Saxony and Bavaria is planned to take place from September 26th to 29th, primarily to train firefighting. Around 1,000 firefighters from both federal states will take part, which underlines how important such exercises are for the entire region.

The district preparedness exercise in Cuxhaven showed once again that good crisis management can only be efficient if everyone involved is well coordinated. The day ended with a convivial final dinner at which the emergency services celebrated the success of the exercise and exchanged senior leadership and valuable experiences.