Heavy rain alarm in Dresden: These districts are most at risk!

Heavy rain alarm in Dresden: These districts are most at risk!

In recent years, devastating weather events have repeatedly shown us that climate change is not just a distant problem. Current analyzes show that heavy rain effects increase significantly in Germany. While entire cities are threatened by floods, there are also in the first row of dangers in Dresden, such as [Sächsische.de reported] (https://www.saechsische.de/lokales/Dresden/neuestarkregen-analysis-fuer-dresdte-diese-stadtteile-sind- vengeanders-j7dzca2j75actafzj2lo6d4.html).

The residents of the Pillnitz Palace Park experienced a particularly distinctive example on August 18, 2024, when around 100 liters of water per square meter pounded the earth within a very short time. This amount of precipitation can be compared to the devastating floods from 2002 and 2013, and the damage caused by heavy rain are enormous. Again and again the ever shorter warning times for such weather phenomena are pointed out. The modeling of the flood areas is based on a storm in the Ahr Valley from 2021, where 180 liters of rain have fallen in just six hours.

particularly endangered districts

The analysis identified 15 districts of Dresden as particularly endangered. These include Friedrichstadt, Leipziger suburb and Trachau. While some areas, such as the Sevorstadt-Ost, are particularly affected-here the water could be over a meter high-other parts of the city, such as Schönfeld/Schullwitz and Altfranken/Gompitz, show a much lower risk of flooding. Environmental Mayor Eva Jähnigen makes it clear that the possibilities of the city are limited to successfully secure extreme weather events.

The city plans to implement the new climate adaptation concept "Schwammstadt". The aim is to store rainwater in green areas and green roofs to reduce the risk of floods. Homeowners are also asked to become active and take preventive measures, for example through backflow flaps or infiltration areas. Unfortunately, the city is currently missing the necessary personnel and the funds for the implementation and the planned support programs.

a global challenge

The dangers from heavy rain are international. [Deutschlandfunk indicates] (https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/ueberschwemzen- Hochwasser-klimawassel-100.html) that massive rainfall led to devastating floods, especially in Spain, which cost over 200 people. This weather phenomenon, caused by a "cold air drop", is just one of many examples that show how climate change reinforces extreme weather events worldwide.

Also in other regions, such as in southern Germany, there were unusually heavy rains last year. The scientific community agrees that these extremes are favored by global warming. Since the 1950s we have found a significant increase in severe rainfall worldwide, which are directly connected with increasing CO2 emissions and global average temperatures, such as WWF explained.

A new report by the world climate confirms these trends and shows that the likelihood of extreme weather events could continue to increase. Forecasts predict that coastal floods that used to occur every 100 years could occur more and more in the future.

In summary, it can be said that climate change is a topic that not only affects politics, but each one of us is required to actively make a contribution. Whether through personal pension measures or by promoting environmental protection projects - the time to act is now.