The Saxony State Fire Service and Disaster Control School is conducting a disaster control exercise between 27.08.2024 and 29.08.2024, in which the basic idea is that an administrative staff of a district, or as now a district-free city, jointly trains with its operational command. In particular, the focus is on communication between the two staffs. At the same time, a police staff is practicing at the same location. This means that 3 independent staffs are training in this framework exercise.
The following hypothetical weather situation is rehearsed: On 27.08.2024, an area of high pressure with very hot and dry air dominates the weather in the Chemnitz area. During the night of August 28, it will be only slightly cloudy with temperatures dropping to 25 to 23 degrees and a weak wind from the south. On the morning of August 28, initially a light wind from the south, but in the morning the wind will increasingly freshen and turn to the west, with gusts of 85 km/h. Accompanying the gusts of wind, an area of low pressure from western Poland will approach the greater Chemnitz area. According to the weather forecast, the low pressure area will bring heavy rainfall of up to 80 l/m2 in one hour.
General Situation, 1st Exercise Day. One of the largest festivals in the country will begin on 27.08.2024. The Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 is expecting over 70,000 visitors for the Kosmos Festival. The festival organization has already deployed several first aid units who are responsible for providing minor to moderate medical care. In the early afternoon of the second day of the event, a physical altercation broke out between 30 men on Schlossteich Island. It was only after the police intervened that this altercation could be broken up.
Alongside this, the 2024 German National Cycling Race (Bundesliga-Radrennen) is being held in and around Chemnitz. Due to several crashes and serious injuries in the past, several first aid units were requested by the organizers. In the early afternoon hours, a massive crash occurred at the traffic circle on Werner Seelenbinder Str., near BMW Autohaus Melkus. Some of the 50 people affected suffered moderate fractures, abrasions and lacerations.
General Situation, 2nd Exercise Day. On the morning of 28 August 2024, there is heavy rainfall. The festival organisational team meets in the morning and considers cancelling the festival due to the weather conditions. The reason for this is the massive amounts of water on and around the festival site, which would no longer guarantee the safety of the festival participants. At around 9.30 a.m., the FLZ reports a hazardous freight accident to the police on the A 72 federal motorway, on the A4. According to the police, this involved a collision between two cars and a lorry carrying hazardous freight. As a result of the violent collision, a substance with the identification X333 leaked at the scene of the accident. The FLZ also reports to the police that a kilometre-long traffic jam has already formed, in which several rear-end collisions have also occurred. The German Armed Forces Command reported that a military convoy had come to a standstill in the traffic jam at kilometre 77.0. The convoy consisted of 20 military vehicles with 40 people.
At 12.41 p.m., the hospital operations centre at Chemnitz Hospital reports a total failure of the entire digital data processing system. Due to the high capacity utilisation caused by the flu epidemic that has been going on for days, inpatient admission is no longer possible. The hospital can only be approached in the event of life-threatening emergencies by prior arrangement.
The groundskeeper of the Einsiedel Gymnasium reports that around 100 pupils who have spent the night in the youth centre (same location as the school) are currently unable to leave. Due to the heavy rainfall, streams and rivers in the Einsiedel area have flooded. It is impossible to drive on the only access road leading to the school. It is also reported that a 13-year-old pupil is complaining of severe lower abdominal pain. The flooding caused by the heavy rainfall has a massive impact on other neighbourhoods in the greater Chemnitz area. Reports of flooded basements, trapped people and heating oil leaks pile up.
On 28.08.2024, the IRLS Chemnitz receives an emergency call about heavy smoke in the underground car park of the "Roter Turm" shopping centre. Several callers now report a strong smell of burning up to the third floor. The shopping centre's emergency manager has already started the evacuation. According to reports, chaotic conditions prevail.
General Situation, 3rd Exercise Day. During the afternoon of 28 August, the shift supervisor on duty at the Chemnitz residual waste treatment plant reports that the fire alarm system has been triggered near the dedusting facility. After inspection by two employees, a fire is confirmed.
The Chemnitz police control centre recieved a call around 18:00 in the late afternoon. According to the caller, there was a hostage situation in the emergency room at the Chemnitz hospital. A male person loudly demands immediate treatment for his mother. The caller also stated that the person in question had already fired several shots from a firearm.
