New flood protection for Gera: Start of construction for the White Elster!

New flood protection for Gera: Start of construction for the White Elster!

An important step to improve flood protection in Gera is heralded today: twelve years after the devastating flood, which brought sudden floods in 2013 and made parts of the city inaccessible, the first construction phase of the flood protection systems on the White Elster in the Zwötzen district starts. According to mdr , the existing dike facilities are replaced by sheet pounding and also created.

The past floods, especially the 2013 record flood, in which the water level rose to an impressive 4.58 meters and 812 hectares of the city area were flooded, the city administration and the population woke up. The damage, which was estimated at the time of around 58.4 million euros, made it inevitable. After all, in the heavily affected areas, a few days were only available for several days, as the city administration describes in detail in its report on flood protection measures Gera.de .

extensive protective measures in planning

As informed by the Thuringian State Office for the Environment, Mining and Nature Conservation (TLUBN), in addition to the structural measures, the redesign of the cycle path and the increase in Salzstraße are also part of the plans. In addition, several traders and allotment gardeners had to give part or in part to make room for the necessary protective measures. The first construction phase, which extends over a kilometer to Liebschwitz, should be completed by 2027. Then the second construction phase will follow on the opposite side of the river, which is intended to further improve the flood Situation.

flood is a global challenge, and Germany is not excluded. Statistically speaking, around 7.6 percent of all German addresses are exposed to a flood risk, especially along rivers such as the Rhine and its tributaries. The changes in the climate have not made the situation easier. The likelihood of heavy rain events has increased, which presents the communities with additional challenges. These and other findings that are related to the flood situation are presented by Statista Statista .

The way to a safe future

In order to minimize future flood risks, the city of Gera has already taken a variety of flood protection measures in the past. These range from protective walls and dike renovations to redesigned retention areas, such as in the Hofwiesenpark, which was modernized in connection with the Federal Garden Show in 2007. Today he has a central role in the urban flood protection concept.

The current projects are an expression of conscious use of nature and a clear strategy to secure the quality of life of Gera citizens: inside. Gera's flood protection concept, which was created in 2005 and revised in 2015, ensures that the city is better equipped for future caprioles. With a coherent plan and committed citizens, Gera is on the best way to master the challenges of nature and to remain safer and lively in the future.