Germany rehearses national crisis response amid heat and drought
In Germany’s largest crisis-management exercise, the federal government, Länder and more than 150 organisations are working together.
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Germany began a major national exercise on Wednesday based on a fictional extreme heatwave after years of drought. The LÜKEX 26 exercise runs until 6 November inclusive and tests how authorities and vital sectors work together.
The scenario assumes five consecutive dry years and temperatures of up to 45 degrees. In the exercise scenario, the consequences affect public health, water supplies, agriculture, transport and critical infrastructure, among other areas. The German government stresses that the events themselves are fictional, but that the risks being practised are real.
According to the German Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, more than 150 organisations are taking part. The federal government, Länder and various ministries must exchange information, set priorities and inform the public in a complex crisis situation.
The exercise is not a prediction of a specific heatwave in November. It is intended to test administrative procedures and communication before a real, prolonged crisis occurs. The consequences for sectors dependent on water, electricity, transport or medical capacity are also being examined.
The exercise is relevant to the Netherlands because heat, drought and low water levels do not stop at national borders. Germany is also an important neighbour and trading partner. Problems with transport, energy supplies or industrial production could therefore also affect Dutch companies and border regions.
The German authorities present LÜKEX as preparation, not as evidence that all risks are already manageable. The exercise’s results should later show where communication, powers or cooperation fall short. It remains to be seen which improvements will emerge from the exercise.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Germany is holding a national crisis-management exercise from 4 to 6 November.
- The exercise scenario concerns prolonged drought and an extreme heatwave.
- The consequences in the scenario affect several levels of government and vital sectors.
Left
Arguments The exercise shows that climate risks require public preparation and investment in protecting health, water and infrastructure.
Values Prevention, public responsibility and protection of vulnerable groups.
Consequences Insufficient preparation could affect older people, the sick and those with limited means in particular.
Centre
Arguments The most important lesson is institutional cooperation: powers, information and communication must be tested in advance.
Values Administrative reliability, proportionality and practical feasibility.
Consequences An exercise can make bottlenecks visible, but proves something only if its findings are translated into policy.
Right
Arguments Crisis preparation should focus on the resilience of vital infrastructure and clear responsibilities, without declaring every risk a permanent state of emergency.
Values Security, order, national resilience and restrained government.
Consequences Targeted preparation can limit damage, while excessive central control can increase costs and bureaucracy.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The start date, duration, participants and content of LÜKEX 26 have been checked against German government sources. The text clearly distinguishes between the fictional exercise scenario and real climate risks.
- confirmed LÜKEX 26 is taking place from 4 to 6 November 2026. — This is stated in the BBK announcement. source
- confirmed More than 150 organisations are taking part. — The German government sources mention more than 150 participating organisations. source
- confirmed The scenario assumes five dry years and temperatures of up to 45 degrees. — This is stated in Niedersachsen’s explanatory notes. source
Editor's note
The exercise and the fictional scenario have been confirmed by German government sources. The consequences for the Netherlands are a journalistic interpretation of geographical and economic interconnectedness, not a measured effect.Sources
- LÜKEX 26: Große übergreifende Krisenmanagementübung startet — BBK
- Niedersachsen startet Deutschlands größten Krisen-Stresstest — Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Inneres
- LÜKEX 26 - Dürre und Hitzewelle — BBK
More on this in Dutch media
- Het Parool — „duitsland hittegolf”
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- NRC — „duitsland hittegolf”