Flood horror in the Harz: How communities are fighting for their existence!

Flood horror in the Harz: How communities are fighting for their existence!

July 2017 will be remembered as one of the rainiest months since weather records began in 1881. At the Brocken in the Harz Mountains, up to 306 liters of rain per square meter fell between July 24th and 26th, when the low pressure area “Alfred” hit the region with its days-long rainfall. This extreme weather situation led to devastating flood events that affected large parts of Lower Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. In the Harz Mountains in particular, the rainfall was catastrophic at over 300 liters per square meter, which also caused the rivers and streams to overflow. MDR reports that ...

The district of Silstedt in Wernigerode was particularly affected, where the Holtemme River overflowed its banks. In the documentary “Life Saver,” the affected residents reported on flooded properties and the dramatic situation in which a family had to bring their walking-impaired grandmother to safety from a flooded house using a rubber dinghy. While the fire brigade in Harsleben and a committed neighborhood fought tirelessly against the damage, the residents were literally overwhelmed by masses of water.

Floods and evacuations

The situation worsened dramatically when water levels at numerous gauge points reached record levels. At the water level of the Innerste near Hildesheim, the water level rose from 2.5 to around 7 meters within a very short time. A disaster alarm was triggered in the city of Hildesheim and the surrounding area, where water flooded the historic market square. In the Goslar district, entire districts had to be evacuated, while over 3,400 helpers were deployed and thousands of sandbags were installed. Wikipedia describes that ...) The flood also caused millions of euros in damage, and the extent of the disaster was so serious that the highest severe weather warning level was declared for parts of Thuringia during this time.

The zones around the rivers Leine, Oker, Ilse, Radau and Innerste suffered particularly badly from the consequences of the floods. These events are part of a larger trend observed worldwide: floods are the most common natural disasters. According to Statista, floods have caused almost 37 percent of all natural disasters since 2000. Global climate change is a major factor increasing the frequency and intensity of such events. Statista proves that...

Flood risks in Germany

In view of the current weather extremes and due to factors such as soil sealing and the destruction of natural flood areas, 7.6 percent of all German addresses are already exposed to a statistical flood risk. Around 400,000 people who live along the Rhine and its tributaries are at risk of similar damage in the coming years. Future flood events could become even more devastating if the infrastructure is not adapted accordingly and natural retention areas are available. The need for consistent flood protection is becoming increasingly urgent.

The events of 2017 thus add to the picture of a changing climate that poses major challenges not only to nature but also to society. It remains to be hoped that the lessons learned from this and similar disasters will not only lead to short-term relief measures, but will also set the course for better flood protection in the long term.