European Union funding will finance a joint project which will bring German flood experts to County Durham to share their knowledge and experience.
Durham County Council and local emergency services are using the funding to support collaboration with Germany to share ideas on possible ways of working when responding to weather emergencies.
County Durham experienced two severe weather events over the summer and the council, together with the fire and rescue service and police, is keen to look at practices developed from experiences elsewhere.
Helmut Gangelhoff, head of civil contingency Kreis Wesel, Udo Zurmuhlen, deputy fire chief of Kreis Wesel and Lars Rentmeister, member of the administrative board of Kreis Wesel will be guests of Durham County Council, Durham Constabulary and County Durham Fire and Rescue Service for three days.
The visit, part of the European Union Leonardo Project, is an opportunity to share experiences. The Kries Wesel area of Germany sits on the Rhine and experiences regular flooding emergencies.
German emergency services make extensive use of the voluntary and community sectors during emergencies and this is an area it is hoped can be developed within County Durham in the future.
Mr Gangelhoff and his colleagues will arrive in the county next week.
