Flood simulation exercise to showcase crisis response roles in Tallinn

Three Interreg projects will run a hands-on flood simulation at the EUSBSR Annual Forum 2026 in Tallinn, Estonia, demonstrating how coordinated local action and clearly defined roles can strengthen crisis preparedness and response.

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 “this exercise demonstrates how clear roles, coordination and local capacity are essential to respond effectively to crises 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 serves as a demonstration of how citizens can be meaningfully engaged through digital tools. It goes beyond simply informing people about potential flood scenarios but also into how they can contribute to readiness efforts that align with the co‑creation of public services” says Sanna Varis, BALTFLOODS Project Manager at the City of Lappeenranta, Finland.

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.

About the projects:

BALTFLOODS project helps public authorities better monitor and respond to floods, reduce polluted stormwater discharges, and encourage community engagement in addressing environmental threats. The project is led by City of Lappeenranta (Finland).

ClimaResponse project helps local authorities reduce climate and disaster risks, improve their response to extreme weather events, and build long-term regional climate resilience through targeted strategies, training and cooperation. The project is led by the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS).

CREWS project – Enhancing capacities in disaster risk reduction by facilitating public-civil cooperation – seeks to strengthen disaster risk reduction (DRR) capacities across the Baltic Sea Region by fostering effective public–civil collaboration. The project is led by the Hamburg City District of Altona (Germany).

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