Effective disaster prevention: Vogelsberg protection forces in dialogue!

Effective disaster prevention: Vogelsberg protection forces in dialogue!

Disaster protection was at the top of the agenda in the Vogelsberg district today. The platoon commanders of the local disaster control units met at the Nieder-Ohmen fire station to discuss important issues relating to safety and medical care. The meeting was well attended with 33 emergency services present, including representatives from the fire department, rescue service and technical relief organization as well as a delegation from the Office for Emergency Response. German press index reported that the focus of the meeting was on healthcare.

The presentation by Ulf Immo Bovensmann from the DRK district association Alsfeld, who explained the structure of the medical trains in Hesse, was particularly interesting. There are a total of 38 medical trains in the region, two of which are stationed in the Vogelsberg district, namely in Alsfeld and Lauterbach. These platoons are responsible for viewing injured people, registering them and carrying out emergency medical measures as well as organizing evacuation.

Sightings and optimization

At the meeting, a medical equipment truck, the DRK's ambulance B and the fire department's logistics equipment truck were also inspected. District fire chief Andreas Leinweber gave an analysis of the march and training exercise from August 2025 in Grebenhain, in which both positive aspects and opportunities for improvement were discussed. The discussion about the administrative processes in disaster control operations, which are essential for smooth cooperation, was particularly exciting.

Another item on the agenda was the reporting and forms system in the Vogelsberg district. District fire chiefs Tony Michelis and Thomas Stein explained to the participants about essential documents, information for employers and efficient reporting channels in an emergency.

Joint exercises and future plans

A forward-looking proposal that received broad support at the meeting was to plan a large-scale exercise in the coming training year. This could possibly take place at the military training area in Wildflecken, Bavaria. The aim of the exercise is to train driving in a group and to carry out subject-specific training scenarios under realistic conditions. Direct exchange between the aid organizations was considered extremely important by all participants.

The topic of disaster management is becoming increasingly important not only locally, but also at the national level. In its courses, the Civil Protection Academy addresses the challenges associated with cyber attacks, floods and the declaration of a disaster. The successful leadership of administrative staffs in emergencies must be optimized in the future to ensure better civil-military cooperation. This is happening, for example, through the upcoming certificate course “Disaster Manager (m/f/d)” from January 21st to 23rd, 2026 in Hamburg and digitally, like that Civil Protection Academy communicates.

The legal basis for disaster control, especially in Austria, is clearly defined. The federal states’ disaster relief laws play a crucial role here. These regulate the detection of disasters and the official management of operations at various levels of administration. The current coordination recommendations provided by the State Crisis and Disaster Protection Management (SKKM) are particularly relevant for effective disaster protection at home and abroad, such as BMI informed.

In times when disasters are becoming increasingly diverse and unpredictable, the willingness and commitment of helpers in aid organizations is essential. The joint meeting in the Vogelsberg district is a step in the right direction to better protect the population.