DEMO - crisis management

DEMONSTRATION EXERCISE – CRISIS MANAGEMENT

Wednesday 29 April

09:30 – 17:00

Hall 6

Imagine the following:

a crowded passenger train collides head-on with a freight train. The passenger train has derailed and approximately two carriages have fallen from a bridge due to the impact. The freight train has also derailed, and a wagon containing the liquid substance methylthioninium chloride (methylene blue) is partially hanging over the edge of the bridge.

This is a rare but high-impact incident that thoroughly tests every emergency organization. During this unique demonstration setup, you will have the opportunity to discover from the front row how such complex crises are managed in reality, with each participating service demonstrating its role in crisis management:

• Emergency call center 112
• Fire brigade: technical rescue operations, IGS deployment and leadership of operational coordination
• Medical services: medical assistance, on-site stabilization prior to transport to hospitals and psychosocial support
• Police services: perimeter security, traffic management and drone deployment
• Logistical support: Civil Protection and Defence with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service (DOVO/SEDEE) intervening in case of suspicious packages
• Public information during the emergency situation with BE-Alert as the sole direct means of notifying the population
• Support from the companies involved in the incident: SNCB-NMBS and Infrabel

Experience the scenario up close with XVR

Using XVR simulation, the incident is presented in a highly realistic way. You will see the accident from different perspectives and immediately understand:

• how chaotic the first minutes can be
• what information emergency services need
• how quickly coordination and decision-making must take place

You can also participate yourself and walk virtually through the incident site.

Discover how coordination structures operate

You will gain a unique insight into strategic coordination meetings and command post operations:

• how disciplines exchange information
• how priorities are determined
• who makes which decisions and when
• how cooperation saves lives

These processes are normally invisible to outsiders; this demonstration provides a unique behind-the-scenes view.

Each discipline demonstrates its crucial role

Fire services, medical response, police, communication, logistics, etc.
Each discipline explains:

• its responsibilities
• specialized tasks during railway incidents
• the challenges encountered
• how its expertise makes a difference

At each discipline’s stand, you can receive explanations, watch live demonstrations, and ask questions.

What will you take away?

You will leave with:

• a much better understanding of how major incidents are really handled
• insight into the complexity and strength of multidisciplinary cooperation
• knowledge of coordination structures
• a more realistic understanding of what emergency services do in the first crucial minutes
• practical insights you can apply in your own professional field

You will look differently at crisis management — and at the people who make it possible every day.

An initiative of Brandweervereniging Vlaanderen in collaboration with the Emergency Planning Department of the Governor of West Flanders.

Participating partners