The municipality of Westerveld is participating in a trial with emergency support points. Westerveld is the only Drenthe participant. A total of almost seventy municipalities are participating in all 25 safety regions of the country.
It is not yet clear where the emergency support point will be located in Westerveld. The test is being carried out by the Netherlands Institute of Public Safety (NIPV) on behalf of the Association of Dutch Municipalities, the safety regions and the Ministry of Justice and Security.
An emergency support point is a place in the municipality where residents can go if facilities fail. In any case, they will receive important information there. The trial examines whether the emergency support centers can also provide other forms of support.
Because municipalities are close to residents and entrepreneurs, they work closely with the safety regions to carry out the trial with the emergency support points. “Westerveld has offered itself,” says a spokesperson for the Drenthe Safety Region. “We are now preparing. We hope to gain experience with the test.”
According to the spokesperson, the test should identify exactly when people should come to such an emergency support point. “For example, if the power goes out, what can people pick up and bring at such a point? What do you offer them?”
The plan is the result of a government campaign in which citizens are advised to prepare for an emergency. Consider, for example, large-scale power outages, a cyber attack or even a war. Dutch people were also advised to have an emergency kit for three days at home, as well as enough cash.
The intention is that a recommendation will emerge from the trial in early 2027.
