Well prepared for emergencies: Free events on emergency preparedness The district administration provides monthly information on the topic of emergency preparedness. This time it's about free events at the VHS Oberberg. Get practical tips.

Oberbergischer Kreis. Preparedness for crises and emergencies starts in everyday life. Those who know which measures are important in case of an emergency can react faster and make preparations. In October, the Department for Fire, Civil, and Disaster Protection of the Oberbergischer Kreis and the Consumer Center NRW, in cooperation with the Volkshochschule Oberberg, are offering two free informational events. Both events provide attendees with concrete information and practical suggestions to better prepare themselves and their homes for possible emergencies.

Prepared & Safe: Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Planning in Private Households (Online and On-site)

On Thursday, October 15, 2026, the Department for Fire, Civil, and Disaster Protection of the Oberbergischer Kreis will provide information from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM on how private households can prepare for different crisis situations. Additionally, there will be experience reports from Morsbach.

The importance of personal preparedness during widespread incidents is explained using the example of Storm Kyrill. Kevin Wirth from the Volunteer Fire Brigade Morsbach will address the storm event in an introductory talk. Following this, Kevin Noss and Thomas Michel from AggerEnergie will explain how the power grid is structured from high to medium to low voltage and who is responsible for the respective areas.

Another focus is on the question of how a power outage can affect people in need of care. Tobias Schmies (Inclusion Officer of the Oberbergischer Kreis) demonstrates with concrete examples why preparedness is particularly important in this context: Electric care beds, medication cooling, or ventilators can be directly dependent on a functioning power supply. Finally, District Fire Chief Julian Seeger will provide information on various warning systems and the function of emergency information points.

Registration is required via www.vhs-oberberg.de. The event will be offered simultaneously online (Course Number B2614112) and on-site at Morsbach Town Hall (Course Number B2606112). Participants can ask questions and actively participate in the event. Questions can also be submitted in advance via email to amt38@obk.de.

Protection Against Heavy Rain - What You Can Do (Online)

Already on Friday, October 9, 2026, a free online seminar by the Consumer Center NRW will address protection against heavy rain and backflow. From 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM, Anne Wormland-Ciechanowicz (Speaker of the Climate Adaptation Group at the Consumer Center NRW) will show homeowners the options available to better protect their houses and properties.

Severe thunderstorms, overloaded sewage systems, and surface water runoff can cause significant damage even in non-flood situations. The seminar explains the causes and consequences of heavy rain and backflow and provides concrete recommendations for structural precautions and proper planning. Legal and insurance aspects will also be addressed.

The online seminar is aimed at anyone who owns, plans, or renovates a house and wants to learn more about the technical, legal, and financial aspects of heavy rain protection. Participation is free of charge. The seminar takes place online, offers the opportunity to ask questions via a live chat, and will be recorded for registered participants.

Registration is also done via www.vhs-oberberg.de under the Course Number B2614035.