Large-scale exercise Silence 25” in Tulln: Ready for the blackout?

Large-scale exercise Silence 25” in Tulln: Ready for the blackout?

The nationwide blackout exercise “Silence 25” will take place on November 24, 2025 under the direction of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. In Lower Austria, the exercise is carried out at the Lower Austria Fire and Safety Center in Tulln. Not only emergency organizations take part in this important event, but also infrastructure operators, state departments and state-related institutions. State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner emphasizes the central role of the exercise in improving processes and communication in the event of a crisis.

“Silence 25” addresses a blackout scenario that is seen as a major challenge affecting all areas of life, including health, education, economy, transport and households. Mikl-Leitner sees the exercise as a sign of strength and not fear, as it serves to identify and address weak points. According to her, investments in crisis and disaster protection management are essential to avoid chaos and save lives. She would like to expressly thank the members of the crisis team for their expertise and commitment.

Exercise acceptance and challenges

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner emphasizes the importance of such exercises for the security of the population. Stefan Kreuzer, deputy department head of the fire department and civil defense department, gives an overview of the exercise assumption. This simulates a summer weather situation with severe storms. The scenarios include people trapped in lifts, broken down trains and special situations in clinics and care and support centers.

Also important is the LÜKEX format, which stands for crisis management exercises across countries and resources. This exercise, which takes place regularly in Germany, aims to improve joint crisis management between the federal and state governments, including aid organizations and critical infrastructure companies. The exercises are coordinated by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland in cooperation with the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance in order to create a fictitious crisis situation.

The importance of crisis management and resilience

The discussion about blackouts has become more urgent due to various factors, such as the war in Ukraine. A 2010 study by the German Bundestag shows that a widespread power outage lasting over two weeks could cause a “collapse of the entire society.” After a few days in such a scenario, supplies to the population would no longer be secure, which would endanger public safety.

Although the likelihood of a blackout is generally considered low, the risk has increased. Therefore, risk awareness for society as a whole is fundamental. Civil protection in Germany is well structured and includes federal, state and local authorities. Blackout emergency plans were developed over a decade ago and people are advised to take 72-hour preparedness. This can be supported by the use of emergency power systems and emergency power generators provided by the Federal Agency for Technical Relief and other organizations.

The National Resilience Strategy and the National Security Strategy are intended to strengthen the resilience of society as a whole, and a KRITIS umbrella law is expected for 2024 to further improve the protection of critical infrastructure. In this context, conducting exercises such as “Silence 25” is a crucial part of preparing for possible crisis situations and strengthening security structures in society.