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All-clear for Ludwigsburg: disaster control exercise without danger!
On October 18, 2025, the all-clear was given for Walheim after a disaster control exercise with traffic disruptions and international operations.
All-clear for Ludwigsburg: disaster control exercise without danger!
On October 18, 2025, the all-clear was given for the Ludwigsburg region. This was preceded by a warning in connection with a disaster control exercise in Walheim. The integrated control center of the Ludwigsburg district assessed the situation as slightly dangerous at 3:01 p.m. Previously, between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., the exercise took place on Brückenstrasse. This temporarily led to traffic delays and closures of Brückenstrasse and Karlstrasse, with diversions being set up. Accident actors with fake injuries were also actively used in the area of Walheim train station in order to make the exercise as realistic as possible. More emergency vehicles were visible in Walheim, Besigheim and Bietigheim.
The disaster management exercise in Walheim was part of a larger scenario that had a significant international dimension. Another example of such exercises took place in Baden-Württemberg from October 24th to 26th, 2024. The aim was to test cooperation in the event of a disaster between different countries, with partner countries such as Austria, Greece, Switzerland and France involved. A hypothetical earthquake of magnitude 6.9 in the North Baden area was simulated. The exercise aimed to improve the effectiveness of the EU's civil protection mechanism, known as the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).
International disaster protection and the role of NGOs
A total of around 950 people took part in this exercise, including national disaster and civil protection units. Support from international teams included around 230 members, including the Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Team from France with around 80 people and a CBRN team from Greece. In addition, over 150 vehicles, 15 dogs and two helicopters were deployed. Such comprehensive preparations result in a project volume of 1.36 million euros, which is also co-financed by the European Commission.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement plays a central role in international disaster relief. With 192 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the most prominent non-governmental actor in international disaster relief. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is also the only organization directly mentioned in the Geneva Conventions, which underlines its status in international humanitarian law.