Exercise “UUSIMAA 2008”

The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) will conduct the disaster response field exercise “UUSIMAA 2008” from 1 to 5 June 2008 in the region of the Finnish capital Helsinki.

Teams from twenty-five Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) nations will participate in the exercise: Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States.

All together, approximately 1100 participants with capabilities to deal with different aspects of emergencies, including experts with staff officer assignments, will take part in the event. Some 150 observers are also expected. “UUSIMAA” will allow NATO and Partner countries to practice disaster response mechanisms and capabilities and to enhance co-operation in emergency situations.

The fictitious scenario for the exercise will be flooding and storms along the coastline of the Gulf of Finland. According to the scenario, water levels will rise during the spring and the storms will damage critical infrastructure objects. There will be also Chemical, Biological and  Radiological  threat simulations.

Through this exercise, NATO and Partner nations will practice the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) procedures and Euro-Atlantic Response Unit (EADRU) capabilities, in order to improve EAPC nations’ ability to respond to a disaster. The exercise will also contribute to strengthening the stricken nation’s capability to effectively coordinate consequence management operations.

The exercise “UUSIMAA 2008” is a Finnish contribution to the Partnership for Peace  Programme for 2008. Since 2000, this is the eighth field exercise conducted by the EADRCC. During the exercise, a celebration is planned to mark the 10th anniversary of the EADRCC.

Additional updated information on the exercise will be provided by the Finnish Ministry of the Interior under:
http://www.cmcfinland.fi

Media arrangements:

Accreditation is necessary for all media representatives wishing to cover the exercise in Helsinki. The deadline for accreditation is 19 May 2008. 
Applications for accreditation can be made through the following website: 
http://213.138.148.12/netcomm/queries/viewForm.asp?iFormID=21&lan=en
During the exercise “UUSIMAA 2008”, a Media centre will be operational in the exercise Base Camp area. The Centre will be staffed by the Finnish Ministry of the Interior and the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
A guided programme including visits at the exercise sites will be arranged for the media on 3 and 4 June.

Enquiries: 

Finland

Ministry of the Interior

Mrs. Tiina Peltola-Lampi
Tel:      +358 9 1604 2966
GSM:  +358 50 456 0806
E-mail: tiina.peltola-lampi@intermin.fi

Media arrangements

Mr. Renne Klinge, Head of Media Centre
Tel: +358 9 160 55815
GSM: +358 40 824 3933
E-mail: renne.klinge@formin.fi

NATO Point of Contact:

Ms. Simone De Manso, Press Officer
NATO press and Media Section
Te: +32 2 707 50 35

Tel: +32 (0)2 707 50 41 - Fax: +32 (0)2 707 50 57
press@hq.nato.int - http://www.nato.int