Total defense exercise on Gotland completed

The exercise has been planned for a year and about 150 people have been involved. The majority are government employees, but also voluntary defense organizations that the Red Cross has participated.

- We have previously practiced crisis and major social disruptions. But we have not practiced sharpened preparedness, so it is clear that we have learned things, says Kicki Scheller.

The scenario during the exercise was, among other things, that Gotland was exposed to severe storms with power outages as a result. It has also been about boat refugees coming to the island while unidentified vessels have been off the coast. Something that made the government decide on heightened preparedness.

In this situation, the county administrative board becomes the highest civilian decision-making authority, and a number of laws come into force. There are upwards of 25 laws that one must then have a look at, says Kicki Scheller. During the exercise, for example, rationing has been handled.

- In war or supreme readiness, it may be that not everyone can get fuel. Then, together with the defense force, we must prioritize who should get, she says.

In December 2017, the government decided that Gotland would become a pilot county for how a modern total defense should be built up in the country. The exercise that has now been completed is a useful preparation for other exercises that will come in the future.

- We who have practiced now have a very good foundation to face in 2020 when there will be a total defense exercise in which Gotland will be practiced on several occasions, says Kicki Scheller.