ABSTRACT
In North-Rhine-Westphalia every city must carry out a disaster prevention exercise at least twice a year. These exercises must be directed at specifie local risk factors.
Cologne is a city with an important chemical industry as well as being an important traffic junction. 25% of the total German production of chemical materials is produced in Cologne and the surrounding areas. The city is surrounded by a belt of large chemical factories as well as many small businesses which process chemicals or are involved in chemical trade and transport. Large amounts of dangerous chemicals are transported by road, rail, ship or pipeline. Cologne is a major road, rail and air transport junction not only for freight but also for passengers. The exercises must therefore be aimed at handling these two risk factors.
