Steiermark Red Cross begins its largest blackout exercise

The Red Cross in Styria is beginning a two-day blackout exercise that it says is the largest in its history, ORF reports.

Under the motto “When the lights go out: blackout in Styria,” the exercise will simulate a widespread power failure. In a real blackout, communications including radio, internet and mobile phone networks could fail, while emergency response, medical care and logistics would still need to be maintained.

The exercise, running on Friday and Saturday, will train how to keep services available to the public, with a focus on procedures and decision-making, Red Cross Styria president Michael Gruber said.

Participants include the organisation’s state and district emergency command teams, the state warning centre, the City of Graz, the Elisabethinen and Brothers of St John hospitals, and Vorau Hospital. The Red Cross said it would present further details of the exercise on Friday morning.