Three projects focusing on disaster risk reduction and crisis preparedness will team up in Tallinn at the EUSBSR Annual Forum 2026 on 12 May 2026 to run a simulation and role-play exercise based on real-life data from a previous flood event in Kristiansand, Norway.
“Municipalities and their communities are on the front line of the impacts of climate change and other disruptive events,” says Katie Goldie-Ryder, ClimaResponse Project Coordinator at the CBSS. She adds that the exercise will demonstrate the range of roles required to respond effectively to a crisis and protect communities.
The exercise, part of the official programme of the EUSBSR Annual Forum 2026, is co-organised by three Interreg sister projects — BALTFLOODS, ClimaResponse and CREWS — which aim to strengthen the capacities of local authorities and communities to prepare for and respond to risks and disasters. All three projects are co-financed by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme.
“The flood exercise will show that, by leveraging digital and technological solutions and engaging citizens as key stakeholders, we can enhance flood preparedness,” says Sanna Varis, BALTFLOODS Project Manager at the City of Lappeenranta, Finland, noting that runoff pollution is also a significant risk that requires attention.
In this hands-on workshop, participants will step into the shoes of local actors and be assigned specific roles in an interactive flood simulation based on real-life data from the October 2017 flood that brought Kristiansand to a standstill.
As the Baltic Sea Region faces growing and interconnected risks — including extreme weather events, geopolitical tensions and infrastructure vulnerabilities — rapid, coordinated local response is essential to reduce harm and protect communities.
“Public authorities cannot manage crises alone — civil society actors, including volunteers, are essential partners in preparedness and response,” says Birgit Gutenmorgen, CREWS Project Manager at the Hamburg district of Altona, adding that coordinated action between authorities, stakeholders and citizens is needed to reduce damage and support more resilient communities.
The “Resilience Edition” of the EUSBSR Annual Forum 2026, held on 12–13 May in Tallinn, will focus on strengthening resilience in the Baltic Sea Region in response to climate, demographic and security challenges. It follows the BSSSC Day of Cities and Regions on 11 May, marking three days of macro-regional cooperation on resilience in Tallinn.