Tabletop exercises
Since 2023, OTH Regensburg, under the direction of Prof. Dr Bresinsky, has been conducting workshops and tabletop exercises to strengthen cross-organisational cooperation between the relevant stakeholders in the district of Oberallgäu in the event of a disaster. The aim is to prepare the Oberallgäu region for future crises and to increase the expertise of crisis-relevant stakeholders. The format promotes exchange and networking by enabling regional stakeholders to engage in dialogue, get to know and understand each other, which has a lasting positive effect on cooperation in civil protection. Three such tabletop exercises on the scenarios of heavy rain, flooding and heatwaves have taken place in the Oberallgäu model region so far. Another one is planned for the end of May 2025.
Presentation of the proposed measures
The findings to date were summarised by the OTH Regensburg project team in a comprehensive SWOT analysis and presented to representatives of the district office, the municipalities and regional emergency services (rescue and medical services, fire brigades, THW, DLRG, local emergency management, etc.) on 16 January 2025. The 33 concrete proposals for measures to optimise disaster control were evaluated, adapted and prioritised in intensive small group work with regard to their feasibility. The feedback from the participants was positive, as such events are very valuable for the exchange between all crisis-relevant stakeholders.
‘The project contributes to a common understanding among those involved. By jointly identifying weak points and deriving solutions, potential complications at interfaces in cross-organisational cooperation can be eliminated in advance. In an emergency, this plays a decisive role,’ explains Ralph Eichbauer, who is involved in the project as head of the “People and Society” department at the Oberallgäu District Office.
In the next step, the results of the workshop will be analysed and consolidated by OTH Regensburg. Through literature research and further events of this kind, concrete recommendations for action for the district will then be developed and the disaster control of the Oberallgäu district will be strengthened in the long term.
Presentation at specialist congress
From 5 to 7 February 2025, the specialist congress ‘Research for Civil Protection’ took place at the World Conference Center in Bonn. This congress, organised by the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, was aimed at scientists from all disciplines working on civil protection issues. Over the course of three days, presentations were given on topics such as crisis management and communication, technical innovations in civil protection, lessons for civil protection from a societal and social theory perspective and much more. insights into the current state of research.
In the ‘Serious Gaming’ section, Henriette Model and Lisa Becher from the OTH Regensburg project team spoke about the pilot project in the district of Oberallgäu and the results and findings it has achieved so far. Their presentation focussed on the developed simulation game concept of scalable tabletop exercises to increase resilience by promoting skills in disaster management. In the joint handling of the disaster situation, decision-making, communication and coordination processes can be mapped and practised, and any weaknesses in cross-actor cooperation can be identified and solutions and improvements developed.
‘The results and findings from the pilot project met with great interest and were very well received by the specialist audience,’ said a satisfied Henriette Model after the conference. ‘At the same time, the exchange with other scientists from the field of civil protection was very enriching for the team, allowing them to validate the findings gathered in the project and collect new ideas.’
