USAG Ansbach exercise to cause power outage at installations

ANSBACH, Germany — USAG Ansbach conducts an unannounced Black Start Exercise sometime between Aug. 15 – Sept. 15, 2026, resulting in power outages across all its installations.

A Black Start Exercise, or BSE, is a planned power outage where electricity to the installation is temporarily shut off to test and access the installation’s readiness and power resilience.

USAG Ansbach will conduct the exercise in two phases.

The first phase will be conducted on a single workday at Barton, Bismarck, Bleidorn, Katterbach, Shipton and Urlas Kasernes. Expect intermittent power throughout the day, with full restoration expected by late afternoon.

The second phase will be conducted two days later at Storck Barracks and Franken-Oberdachstetten Kaserne. Expect intermittent power throughout the day, with full restoration expected by late afternoon.

Congress legally requires all DoW installations to test their ability to operate without power during emergencies. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leads the implementation of these exercises across Army installations worldwide to ensure continuous mission-readiness during prolonged power outages.

The power outages are not expected to affect Army Family Housing, but they are intended to impact Soldiers’ barracks.

USAG Ansbach intends to minimize the impact on daily operations. While offices remain open, scheduled outages may impact garrison services. Garrison crews aim to retain power at the following buildings and facilities:

• Army Family Housing (Katterbach, Urlas, Bleidorn, Storck)
• Ansbach Elementary School and Ansbach Middle High School
• Child Development Center (CDC), School Age Center, Youth Center
• Commissary​
• Exchange ​
• Shoppette and gas station​

All other garrison services are subject to the power outage.

Notifications and updates will be issued on the garrison’s Alert! mass notification system, as well as the USAG Ansbach app and Facebook page. To register in Alert!, visit https://go.mil/AnsbachAlert.

How to Prepare for a Power Outage

• Be Prepared for a Power Outage
• Eat Safe Food after a Power Outage​​​​​​​
• Plan Ahead for Disasters | Ready.gov​​​​​​​​​​​​
• American Red Cross | Power Outage Safety 

Safety Considerations

• Be prepared for possible delays and use caution when driving. The outage may affect traffic signals. Approach intersections cautiously.
• As much as possible, keep the doors of your refrigerator and freezer closed.
• Unplug sensitive electronic devices to protect them from potential power surges when the electricity returns.
• Keep one light on to indicate when the power has come back.
• Utilize battery-operated lights whenever feasible.
• Check in with neighbors who might need extra help.
• Garage doors can be manually opened during a power outage. Ensure the door is not locked, unplug the power source, and pull the red emergency cable release.

After Power Is Restored — Still No Power or Water?

If you continue to have issues with power or water in government facilities (including barracks) after power is restored, call CIV 09641-70-587-1777, DSN 587-1777.