The crisis and disaster researcher Henning Goersch criticised on 8 November 2026 that Thuringia was inadequately prepared for major disasters. According to MDR many local authorities do not systematically record how many volunteer and full-time personnel would actually be available in an emergency. Particularly problematic is the fact that people holding multiple roles – those registered with several organisations at once – are often not included in the statistics. As a result, theoretical staffing levels could significantly overstate actual operational capacity.
The MDR investigation is based on responses from most of the rural districts and independent towns. It found that many areas lack consistent overviews of qualifications, working hours and the likelihood of staff being unavailable, all of which are needed for reliable operational planning. Goersch is therefore calling for a standardised, nationwide record of personnel availability, as well as clear minimum standards for data quality and updating.
Official documents also point to structural challenges. The 2023 Fire and Disaster Protection Report by the Thuringian Ministry of the Interior describes existing plans and responsibilities, but identifies shortcomings in equipment, communications and logistics in the event of a disaster. These findings echo the criticism that legal frameworks and plans on paper are not enough if operational delivery remains hampered by gaps in staffing and data.
According to MDR, practical weaknesses also became apparent during exercises. At a tunnel exercise in the Ilm district in August 2026, coordination and information flows were publicly criticised. The Ministry of the Interior announced that it would review the exercise. Experts see such incidents as evidence that procedures do not work reliably in real-world conditions when control rooms, reporting channels or backup systems are lacking.
The identified shortcomings give rise to two key risks. First, it may not be possible to reach enough personnel quickly if stated staffing levels turn out to include double-counting. Second, failures of critical infrastructure – such as electricity or mobile networks – could disrupt command and communications if robust emergency procedures and fallback systems are not in place.
In Thuringia, responsibility for disaster protection rests primarily with the districts and independent towns; the state sets the legal framework and funds equipment and training. It remains unclear whether the shortcomings now being discussed publicly will lead to immediate organisational changes or a legislative initiative in the state parliament. Government departments have announced internal reviews and further analysis. Alongside establishing a binding data framework, Goersch advocates giving greater priority to training and further education, to prepare leaders in local authorities and emergency organisations for incidents involving many simultaneous disaster sites.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).