4-Berge Ski Super Connection: Emergency Drill Successfully Completed

Haus im Ennstal/Schladming. Starting with the upcoming winter season, the new 4-Mountain Ski Super Connection will link the Hauser Kaibling and the Planai even faster, more comfortably, and more efficiently. With the 10-person gondola “Senderbahn Hauser Kaibling” and the 8-person chairlift “Mitterhausalm I,” a modern connection is being created that takes the experience of switching between the two ski mountains to a whole new level. In the run-up to the official opening, an emergency drill took place on November 15. Under the direction of the Liezen District Administration, officials from Hauser Kaibling and Planai worked closely with the Styrian Police, the Red Cross, the Haus and Oberhaus fire departments, the Schladming and Haus Mountain Rescue teams, the on-mountain rescue services of both ski resorts, the air rescue service, and the mayor of the market town of Haus im Ennstal. The goal of the drill was to test the coordination of all participating organizations in the event of an emergency, even across mountain boundaries. 

“The safety of our guests and our employees is our top priority. Emergency drills like this are an important part of our safety strategy and allow us to practice procedures under realistic conditions and continue to improve them. Effective cooperation among all emergency response organizations is crucial in this regard. I would like to thank everyone involved for their professional preparation and execution,” said Mag. Klaus Hofstätter, Managing Director of Hauser Kaibling. 

“With the two new lifts, we’ve achieved a huge leap in quality for our guests. At the same time, the new circumstances also bring new challenges. It’s extremely important to review points of coordination and ensure that we’re fully prepared in the event of an emergency. “I am impressed by the professionalism of everyone involved and the seamless cooperation demonstrated today,” explained Georg Bliem, Managing Director of Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen GmbH. 

The drill scenarios called for both new lifts to be shut down due to strong winds. Numerous guests were on the cars of both lifts at that time and had to be rescued. Emergency responders reached these passengers by land or were flown to the scene by helicopter. In addition, the access road was blocked by fallen trees, which significantly hampered the emergency responders’ ability to reach the site. Medical emergencies such as leg fractures and hypoglycemia were also simulated. Skiers who were still on the slopes were also coordinated and assisted in the area of the valley stations and transported away by bus. A total of around 250 people participated in the exercise to ensure a scenario that was as realistic as possible. 

The goal of the exercise was to establish a joint command center, test the interfaces between the respective emergency response organizations, review equipment and resources, and familiarize participants with the newly adapted conditions at the new ski lifts. 

Comments on the emergency drill: 

Stefan Schröck, Disaster Management Officer, Liezen District Administration:

“The interaction of many different emergency response organizations requires coordinated leadership. The district administration (Liezen District Office) serves as the central hub for command and control and simultaneously coordinates all official measures in cooperation with the municipality and local businesses. Our emergency responders perform excellently within their areas of expertise and specialization, but cross-organizational cooperation is essential for the success of such a scenario. Exercises like this provide valuable experience for potential real-world operations and are incorporated into an official emergency response and action plan.” 

Christian Huber, Incident Commander, Styria State Police Headquarters: 

“The Liezen Alpine Police would like to thank everyone involved. This exercise demonstrates once again how important teamwork and good relations with the individual emergency response organizations are. The goal must always be the same—namely, to save lives and minimize damage as much as possible.” 

Gerhard Brunner, Christophorus Air Rescue:

“Large-scale emergency drills like this are indispensable for us as an air rescue service. They give us the opportunity to practice our procedures together with mountain railways, rescue organizations, and emergency responders, and to gain valuable insights for real-life emergencies. Today in particular, we were able to deploy a helicopter equipped with a winch, which makes evacuation more efficient—a major advantage in alpine terrain. Through regular training, we can even better ensure the safety of guests and staff in the mountains.”

 Hannes Resch, Commander of the Oberhaus Fire Department: 

“Exercises like these are essential for being prepared for various emergency situations and for practicing procedures under realistic conditions. With around 150 volunteers, we were able to practice the scenarios in a particularly realistic manner. Today’s emergency drill demonstrated that the fire department, emergency medical services, police, and cable car teams work together exceptionally well and can act efficiently in an emergency.” 

Matthias Schwab, Mayor of the Market Town of Haus im Ennstal:

“As mayor of the municipality of Haus im Ennstal, I am pleased to observe during this emergency drill how quickly, professionally, and well-coordinated our emergency response organizations work together. Such drills are important for ensuring we are fully prepared for a real emergency, even though we hope a real emergency never occurs. Today’s results are very positive, and I would like to congratulate all emergency responders on their outstanding dedication.” 

Robert Speer, Local Station Chief, Haus im Ennstal & Patrick Laszlo, Local Station Chief, Schladming Mountain Rescue:

Large-scale, realistic exercises with other emergency response organizations, such as this cable car evacuation, are extremely important for being prepared for a real emergency. Each participating emergency response organization, the cable car companies, and the authorities have their own areas of expertise, and it’s crucial that we work together seamlessly. In an emergency, every move must be precise. We achieved that impressively today.” 

Norbert Pichler, Red Cross Operations Manager: 

During the exercise, the focus was on the coordination among the participating organizations as well as on the lift operator’s internal procedures. Exercises like these are essential to ensure coordinated and efficient operations in an emergency. A key component of the exercise was familiarizing participants with the lift operator’s operational structures.