The situation in the flood areas in Germany is unlikely to ease at the beginning of the new year. On Monday, the German Weather Service (DWD) in Offenbach again predicted a lot of rain for the coming days.
According to the DWD, “heavy, continuous rain” may fall in some low mountain ranges. The DWD is also expecting repeated rain showers on Wednesday, with individual thunderstorms in the southwest towards the evening, but hardly any rain in the southeast. According to the DWD, rain showers will also fall in some areas on Thursday.
The situation in the flood areas remains tense, especially in Lower Saxony. According to data from the State Office for Water Management, Coastal and Nature Conservation on Monday, there is little change in water levels in many places in the country. The authorities reported in the morning that a warning of major floods was active for the Leine, the Aller and the Upper and Middle Weser, among others.
Faeser visits flood areas
One day after Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser also took a look at the flood situation in Lower Saxony on New Year’s Day. The SPD politician found out about the situation in Hatten-Sandkrug near Oldenburg and spoke to emergency services.
Faeser promised further support for the flood areas in Lower Saxony. The SPD politician said on Monday in Hatten near Oldenburg that she was worried about the weather forecasts with more rain. “That complicates the situation. Whatever we can do, we will do.” They would bring in another helicopter to provide further support.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised solidarity during his visit on New Year’s Sunday. “The weather and nature challenge us,” said the SPD politician in Verden. “That’s why it’s important that we stick together in the country. This is happening everywhere through the responsible organizations, the police, the fire brigade, the technical relief agency, and the Bundeswehr has also provided its support.” Many volunteers are also doing everything they can to minimize the consequences and protect people and houses.
Tense situation in the south of Saxony-Anhalt
In addition to Lower Saxony, the south of Saxony-Anhalt on the border with Thuringia and areas in North Rhine-Westphalia are particularly affected by floods. In North Rhine-Westphalia there was a slight relaxation at the turn of the year. In Saxony-Anhalt, the flood situation remains stable, although in some cases at a high level.
The situation remains tense further south of Saxony-Anhalt on the border with Thuringia on the Helme. Because of the flooding on the river, the railway line between Sangerhausen in Saxony-Anhalt and Artern in Thuringia has been closed. The Mansfeld-Südharz district said the reason for the closure was the use of an excavator on the railway embankment near Oberröblingen to secure the dike there.
City council calls for more money for disaster protection
In view of the flooding, the Association of Cities is demanding significantly more money from the federal and state governments for disaster protection. “The federal and state governments must significantly expand funding for flood and disaster protection again – permanently and not on an ad hoc basis through special programs. Too much has been saved in disaster protection in the past,” said Managing Director Helmut Dedy of the German Press Agency.
