Staff from the Adventist Development and Relief Agency gathered in Belgrade, Serbia, from February 2–6, 2026, for the Core Emergency Response Team (ERT) training designed to strengthen disaster preparedness across Europe.

During the training, participants worked in teams to develop emergency response management plans, volunteer coordination strategies, and communication frameworks for crisis situations.

Teams identified by colors collaborated on distribution plans, coordination with local government authorities, partnerships with church administration, and simulated media interviews.

Although the exercise resembled the early stages of a real disaster response, the scenario was fictional. Participants responded to a simulated flood along the Danube River in north-central Serbia as part of a tabletop exercise created to test response strategies and coordination.

The 4.5-day training was designed to help national ADRA offices activate their National Emergency Management Plans under pressure while strengthening the organization’s capacity to respond to emergencies.

Preparing for increasing emergencies

Twenty-four participants traveled from 14 ADRA national offices and one Seventh-day Adventist division office across Europe to attend the training. The event was hosted at the South-East European Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Belgrade.

Trainers from ADRA International, ADRA Europe, and ADRA Euro‑Asia guided participants through a combination of theoretical sessions and practical exercises that simulated the complexity of disaster response.

“We have emergencies every year, and we are seeing that they are occurring more frequently,” said Gabriel Villarreal, regional emergency coordinator for ADRA Europe. “ADRA is called to be prepared to respond to emergencies. Having representatives from many offices committed to this training is key to ensuring we are ready to respond.”

Practicing coordination and decision-making

The training allowed participants to practice using ADRA’s Emergency Response Management System, coordinate humanitarian projects, apply global humanitarian standards, and work with government partners and local church networks.

The simulated flood scenario provided a controlled environment where participants could rehearse decisions that, in real emergencies, must be made quickly and often with limited information.

For Vladimir Popovic, project coordinator at ADRA Serbia, the exercise reinforced the importance of humanitarian principles and local engagement.

“It is valuable to remind ourselves of the importance of being present in the field and understanding the local context,” Popovic said. “The first response in the first 48 hours is critical, and larger organizations cannot operate effectively without local support.”

Learning and collaboration

Some participants joined the training with limited experience in emergency response. Michaela Šrubařová, project and finance manager at ADRA Czechia, said the program helped her better understand the structure behind ADRA’s emergency response system.

“I didn’t realize how well-developed ADRA’s materials and systems were,” she said. “This training helped clarify what it means to be part of an emergency response team.”

Bert Seefeldt, volunteer coordinator at ADRA Germany, said the training helped him understand key aspects of disaster response that previously had to be learned through field experience.

“The training has helped me understand the fundamentals of emergency response,” Seefeldt said.

Strengthening regional cooperation

In addition to technical training, the program provided opportunities for participants from different national offices to connect and share experiences.

Participants emphasized that these relationships are important for strengthening collaboration during future emergencies.

“It is important for us to meet colleagues from other offices, share experiences, and learn from each other,” Popovic said.

The training concluded with a graduation ceremony and a dinner marking the 20th anniversary of the ERT program.

Organizers said the exercise helped transform groups of participants—many of whom had not previously met—into coordinated teams prepared to respond to future humanitarian crises.

The original article was published on the ADRA Europe news site.