The helicopter’s spinning propellers are reflected on the dense waters of the Buna River in Shkodra, as the crew carries out a rescue operation to assist a citizen fighting for his life. Similar operations were conducted in Obot, Berdicë e Mesme, and in the areas around Shirgji Church, Xhamia e Plumbit, Beltojë-Hoxha, and Dajç beach in Shkodra. These exercises involved multinational teams from Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Italy, coordinated by the National Civil Protection Agency in response to an ongoing emergency caused by severe flooding.

Boats, ambulances, pumps, and drones were deployed to manage the flooding and support search efforts, while rescuing individuals, evacuating residents. All efforts proved essential during a flood simulation conducted as part of the EU-funded project FloodNorthALB full-scale exercise, held from 7 to 11 April 2025 in the Shkodra region of Albania. 

This initiative aims to support the Albanian Civil Protection system in responding to ongoing disasters. The project strengthens collective disaster response capabilities and enhances Albania’s preparedness, particularly as the country became a member of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) in 2022. By improving disaster risk management, the FloodNorthALB full-scale exercise prepares authorities for rapid and effective responses, especially in densely populated areas like Shkodra prefecture, making every effort to minimise environmental damage and save lives.

“As a recent member of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism since 2022, Albania has demonstrated remarkable dedication. The full-scale FloodNorthALB exercise shows the critical need to bolster European preparedness for all types of disasters, whether natural or man-made. A rapid and effective response, particularly in densely populated areas like the Shkodër region, are essential to saving lives and minimizing environmental damage,” said Andre Rizzio, Head of Political Section at EU Delegation to Albania.

UCPM full-scale exercises (FSX), such as the one organised in Shkodra, are among the most complex and resource-intensive operations-based exercises. They involve multiple agencies, organisations, and jurisdictions, and are designed to validate various elements of preparedness. The exercise scenario tests every level of the civil protection system, challenging participants to respond in accordance with established procedures, plans, and protocols. Simulating a real-time, high-pressure disaster environment, the full-scale exercise is intended to mirror a major emergency and develop teams capable of acting swiftly and effectively during actual flood events.

As natural disasters increasingly endanger citizens’ lives, property, environments, and cultural heritage—worsened by the ongoing climate crisis—the FloodNorthALB project addresses the complex flood risks in the Shkodra region, an area particularly prone to severe and repeated flooding. 

The aim of full-scale exercises is to enhance Albania’s civil protection preparedness and response capabilities in managing large-scale, complex disasters that require coordinated responses facilitated through the UCPM. The focus is on creating a robust framework for sharing capacities, capabilities, and resources; supporting scientific decision-making; utilising proven innovative tools; and engaging in joint training and exercises that significantly improve international, regional, and cross-border cooperation under UCPM procedures.

The project also ensures effective communication, operational alignment, and the capacity to handle additional resource requests during emergencies.Furthermore, it evaluates the integration and effectiveness of modern technologies, such as drones, in supporting flood rescue efforts with a focus on situational awareness, damage assessment, and operational efficiency.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The EU funded FloodNorthALB project aims to carry out major emergency simulation exercise on complex floods, in the context of the European Union Civil Protection exercise, evaluating the Activation of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), testing the implementation of Host Nation Support (HNS) Guidelines and evaluating the ability of the Local Emergency Management Authority (LEMA) to lead, control, and coordinate Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) activities conducted by both Albanian and UCPM teams, ensuring operational efficiency and timely response. It also aims to test the operationalization of cross-border civil protection support agreements between Albania and neighbouring states (Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo) to ensure seamless cooperation, resource sharing, and border-crossing procedures during response operations. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) includes all 27 EU Member States and, additionally, Albania, Iceland, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, North Macedonia and Turkey.