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June 2008
Russian rescuers descend by ropes to the roof of a reservoir
© Perttu Vepsäläinen
Russian personnel were among some 1000 people from 25 NATO and Partner countries to deploy to assist the Finnish authorities in a five-day disaster-response field exercise, UUSIMAA 2008, which was held in in Finland from 1 to 5 June.
The scenario involved heavy thunderstorms, damage to critical infrastructure, and severe flooding with water contaminated by chemical and organic materials.The Finnish authorities were overwhelmed and requested international assistance via the the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC).
Urban search and rescue teams located and rescued casualties. Medical teams provided first aid and field hospitals were deployed to provide the necessary follow-on medical care.
Several chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) response teams dealt with the consequences of secondary damage to energy facilities and chemical installations, which had led to several leaks in gas and chemical pipelines.
The aim of the exercise was to test procedures and practise capabilities for coordinating disaster-response operations among different organizations and agencies.
The exercise was organized by the EADRCC, which was established at NATO in 1998, based on a Russian proposal. It was the first exercise to be hosted by Finland as part of its contribution to the Partnership for Peace programme.
