Text: Lt (R) Michael Linden-Vørnle
Photo: AR Gert Hertz Jensen

Naval Base Frederikshavn is humming with acitivity – even though it is a chilly, rainy Monday morning. The support ship ABSALON has just arrived with an important part of today’s disaster relief exercise that will take place at the Naval Damage Control School in Hvims and at Jerup Strand.

The Danish Emergency Management   Agency is ready to disembark

On board the huge ship are namely vehicles, equipment and personnel from the Danish Emergency Management Agency which in the exercise scenario are landed in a region that has been struck by a natural disaster – a strong earthquake.

The first to leave ABSALON are, however, neither trucks nor equipment, but two dogs which for example can be used to search for confined persons. First of all they have, however, a completely different mission – they need to find a spot, where they can relieve their bladder!

After everybody has disembarked, the trip goes north – towards Jerup Strand and Hvims. Here a challenging day awaits, where the Danish Emergency Management Agency together with other both civilian and military authorities will provide disaster relief aid as a part of the naval exercise DANEX 07.