In the event of a widespread power outage, common means of communication such as telephone, SMS, messenger services and email fail after a short time. In order to maintain a connection between the population and emergency services even in such exceptional situations, the district of Ludwigsburg relies on the "disaster control lighthouse" concept.
Fire stations as central contact points in the event of a crisis
All fire stations in the district play a central role in this concept. Thanks to their emergency power supply, the fire stations remain illuminated and clearly recognizable even during a blackout. This means they act as "beacons". The disaster control lighthouses are marked with a specially developed sign. This helps citizens to locate the nearest lighthouse and enables them to find their way quickly.
Emergency calls and support in the fire stations
Firefighters are on duty at the locations and receive emergency calls from the public. The information is then forwarded to the relevant authorities. At the same time, the disaster control lighthouses also serve as a point of contact for people who would like to offer their support. With this concept, it is particularly important to keep the entrances and exits as well as the entrances to the fire stations clear at all times in order to ensure that operations run smoothly.
Help and information even in the event of a power failure
The disaster control lighthouses also act as important information points for the population. "We will use these lighthouses to inform citizens about what is happening next, where they can get further information and how the power outage will develop over the next few days," says District Fire Chief Andy Dorroch. In this way, the concept ensures that the population remains well informed even in an emergency.
