The Bank of France published an update on the Groupe de Place Robustesse (GPR) taking part in HYDROS 25, a large-scale crisis exercise led by the Paris Police Prefecture to test business continuity arrangements for government services and strategic sectors under a major Seine flood. The scenario simulated a storm with intense rainfall causing a Seine flood exceeding 2016 levels and approaching those of 1910, with concrete impacts tested for cash distribution continuity and non-cash payment instruments. The exercise combined an advance preparation phase, a two-day real-time crisis simulation, and workshops focused on the recession phase and return to normal operations, including constraints on site accessibility, human resources continuity, and maintaining critical activities. Participation by teams across financial institutions including physical security, HR, IT, cash operations, financial markets, and communications tested prioritisation of activities, identification of key functions, evacuation and switchovers to backup sites, and planning for a return to normal that could take several months, alongside coordination with sectors critical to financial continuity such as energy, telecommunications, and transport.
Bank of France 2025-10-28
Bank of France’s Groupe de Place Robustesse completes HYDROS 25 exercise testing financial sector continuity in a major Seine flood scenario
The Bank of France reported on Groupe de Place Robustesse's participation in HYDROS 25, a crisis exercise simulating a major Seine flood to test business continuity for government services and strategic sectors. The exercise involved real-time crisis simulation and workshops on cash distribution, non-cash payment instruments, and coordination with critical sectors like energy and transport. Financial institutions tested activity prioritization, key function identification, and planning for prolonged recovery phases.