Valmiera activates crisis headquarters for first time in Namejs exercise

Valmiera activated its municipal crisis headquarters for the first time during the Namejs 2026 national defence exercise on Friday, LSM reported. The exercise tested responses to armed people in a building, a chemical threat, and disruptions to communications and electricity.

One scenario involved reports of armed people in a building in Valmiera. The area was cordoned off, and containers containing a potentially dangerous substance were later found inside the building.

The exercise also simulated vehicle-related incidents, including the tracking of suspicious cars, as well as interruptions to water and electricity supplies.

“The function of a crisis headquarters is to manage many different incidents while also ensuring people’s real needs, including food, water and other services,” said Lieutenant Colonel Armands Ķesteris, chief of staff of the Latvian National Guard’s 2nd Vidzeme Brigade.

Until now, similar situations in Valmiera had mostly been addressed through theoretical exercises. This time, the crisis headquarters brought together the municipality, the National Guard, police, firefighters and other services.

The exercise assessed the resources needed, the speed of decision-making and communication in the event of disruptions. Authorities also tested alternative communication methods, including transmitters, radios and equipment intended to enable communication through WhatsApp without an internet connection.

“The next test in Valmiera Municipality is planned for October,” said Valmiera Municipality Council Chair Jānis Baiks.

Checkpoints operated in the city and its surroundings, with the State Police and National Guard working together. Drivers and vehicles were checked, and a dog handler also took part in the inspections.