The City of Mikkeli, in cooperation with the South Savo Rescue and security services, will organise a preparedness exercise on 17 May 2025. The drill will test the establishment of a crisis centre at Lyseo school, which will serve as a support and assistance point for residents in a simulated, widespread power outage scenario. The exercise will not cause any disruption to residents.
Preparing for various types of disruptions and exceptional circumstances is a normal and statutory part of the operations of municipalities and authorities. Preparedness is also regularly practised.
A crisis centre brings together the essential services needed by residents to cope with and recover from emergency or crisis situations. The centre can serve, for instance, as a water distribution or catering point, an emergency shelter, or a location for providing first aid, healthcare services, or psychological support.
These centres may be established in response to extreme weather events, major accidents, or to meet the needs related to the protection of local residents. For example, during a large-scale forest fire, a crisis centre may serve as a rest and support facility for rescue personnel or as temporary accommodation or a safe haven for displaced residents.
“Establishing a crisis centre does not mean constructing new facilities, but rather adapting existing premises to suit the needs of the centre. It is a scalable model that can be adjusted to fit different types and sizes of disruptions,” explains Jani Jämsä, Risk Management Manager at the South Savo Rescue and security services.
The centre must be self-sufficient in energy for at least 72 hours and located within good transport connections. In the event of an emergency, the aim is to launch the centre’s operations within 3–4 hours, with full functionality achieved within 12 hours.
“Strengthening inter-agency cooperation and operational capacity in contingency planning and civil protection is vital — and it’s important to practise these as well,” says Jouni Riihelä, Director of Urban Development for the City of Mikkeli.
Crisis centres, jointly planned by authorities and third-sector actors within municipalities, form a key part of broader emergency and disruption preparedness efforts. Several such centres will be established in Mikkeli, many of them located in school buildings. In the event of an actual disruption, accident or crisis, the authorities will always provide residents with instructions on how to act.
A crisis centre drill to take place in Mikkeli on 17 May 2025
