Written by: Fatima Younes
The municipality of Falaise in the Calvados region of France is preparing to conduct a large-scale emergency drill simulating a gas leak in a residential building in the city center, on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, during the evening period between 18:00 and 19:00.
A scenario simulating a real accident
The exercise will be carried out around the intersection of George Clemenceau and Admiral Kerbut streets, where emergency vehicles with blue lights and sirens will be present, and the scenario will include the presence of victims in a residential apartment due to an assumed gas leak.
Testing the municipal civil protection plan
The Mayor of Falaise, Hervé Monory, explained that the exercise aims to activate the municipal civil protection plan approved in 2024, and to test the ability of agencies to activate the chain of command and mobilize municipal employees, elected officials, and relief teams, in addition to evaluating field responses, site protection management, and determining locations for evacuating the injured.
Wide participation of stakeholders
Participating in the drill are the municipal police, the gas distribution company GRDF, the National Gendarmerie, firefighters, and about fifty volunteer residents who will play the roles of victims and injured persons, in a realistic non-secret simulation to inform the public of the procedures and avoid congesting emergency lines.
Temporary traffic restrictions
The municipality announced traffic and parking restrictions starting from 15:00 on the day of the drill, including both sides of George Clemenceau Street from Place de la Renaissance to the Creperie, Victor Hugo Street, Admiral Kerbut Street up to the Malte tree, and the entire parking lot of the Didier Biancon sports facility.
