Disaster control: district drafts emergency plan for blackout - people have to be "shaken up"

Created: 08/22/2022, 13:31

By: Stefanie Zipfer

As simple as it is useful in the event of a power failure: a candle and a match.

© McPhoto/A.

Schauhuber / imago

The department responsible for civil protection in the district office is currently drafting an emergency plan for a power failure lasting several days, a so-called blackout.

Dachau

-Dr.

Michael Holland, chief of public safety and order at the district office, is actually a very level-headed civil servant;

little causes worry lines to appear on his forehead.

But going to electronics stores this summer gave him something to think about: despite the persistent heat, more electric heaters were sold than air conditioners.

The people, it turned out, are preparing for the gas crisis in the coming winter.

Of course: if the radiator is only lukewarm, the electric fan heater should ensure a warm room.

Blackout: In the event of a disaster in the district of Dachau, a lot would have to come together - emergency plan

But this plan, if you add a few other factors such as extreme cold, even less gas from Russia and even less nuclear power from France, could have devastating consequences.

Consequences, which now Dr.

Holland and his county disaster management leadership group should somehow plan ahead and coordinate.

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According to Stefan Löwl, the district administrator in Holland, the big problem is not just the impending winter gas crisis, as some politicians - especially Green Party politicians - have recently repeated again and again: "To claim that we only have one heat and none Electricity crisis is nonsense!” When the gas was gone, electricity would be used.

However, this “elixir of our society” could run out this winter for the first time in 70 years – “and that is the scenario that we are currently preparing for,” says Löwl.

Holland emphasizes that a problematic blackout lasting several days in several district municipalities at the same time is unlikely.

But it is also “cannot be ruled out”.

He and Löwl do not want to be accused of black painting: "In the hope of the best case, we are currently preparing for the worst." went so well, many have forgotten that it can also be different.”

Heating with electricity leads to a blackout: for an emergency plan, it is surveyed who primarily heats with gas

Holland and Co. are therefore currently primarily concerned with the question: who uses gas in the district?

Who is dependent on it and how much?

Who could possibly provide a temporary remedy in other ways - for example through biogas?

The survey among hospitals, nursing homes, emergency services, farmers, schools and local electricity and gas suppliers should be completed by September.

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With a situation picture resulting from this query, options for action should then be discussed, whereby it is clear: "If the power grids are overloaded and the blackout occurs due to the lack of gas, there is very little we can do." The focus is therefore on maintaining communication or the Communication security between the emergency services.

The official radio should be made "electrically self-sufficient" and the mayors should name public contact points where citizens can get help.

Because one thing is certain: if households have no electricity for more than 24 hours, cell phones will eventually run out of juice.

Emergency plan for blackout: Appeal to the citizens - take care of yourself

Speaking of citizens: According to Löwl, they are of crucial importance in the course of this worst-case scenario.

The keyword is self-provision: "No one should become a prepper (editor's note: people who prepare for disasters with individual measures) or build a bunker." But it would help if every citizen took a look the website of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance.

There you will find a multilingual checklist for emergencies as well as tips on how to behave in emergency situations such as a blackout.

Also, according to Loewl, it's a start if everyone has a spare case of water in the basement, a working radio, and a few candles and matches.

A "mental" preparation is also important, the citizens must be aware:

"Crises demand something from us!" Of course, according to Löwl, many people would turn off this topic and say: "That's not going to happen.

Let's put it to rest!” This way of thinking may be humanly understandable.

A public authority, emphasizes Löwl, "can unfortunately not afford it".

The website of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance offers useful information in the event of an emergency at www.bbk.bund.de.

You can read more news from the Dachau region here.