According to initial estimates, the damage to lines, train stations and rail vehicles caused by the flooding in western Germany amounts to around 1.3 billion euros. “We are facing a tremendous show of strength,” said the Board Member for Asset and Maintenance Management at DB Netz AG, Volker Hentschel, on Friday. “In this dimension, our infrastructure has never been destroyed in one fell swoop.” Talks are currently underway with the federal government about funding.
The damage to more than 50 bridges is particularly serious. The floods also had a serious impact on stations and breakpoints as well as technology. 180 level crossings, almost 40 signal boxes, more than 1000 catenary and signal masts, 600 kilometers of tracks, energy systems as well as elevators and lighting systems in the stations are affected.
Deutsche Bahn is confident that the greatest damage in the areas affected by the flood can be repaired by the end of the year and that traffic will be largely normal again. “Our goal is to be able to bring around 80 percent of the damaged infrastructure back into shape by the end of the year,” said Hentschel. In some regions, however, especially in Rhineland-Palatinate, it could take longer. “At the Eifel and Ahr, for example, nothing can be seen of the previous routes and connections,” said the board of directors. “We’re talking about months, if not years in some places.” (23/07/21)
Federal Office: Our warning system worked
According to the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK), there was no technical disruption to the federal warning system during the storm in western Germany. The authority pointed out on Thursday that in the event of a disaster, the regional authorities would have to trigger a warning and feed it into the modular warning system. “If this step is not taken, the warning app Nina cannot issue a warning to its users,” said the BBK.
The federal government operates the satellite-based modular warning system in order to warn the population in the event of a defense; it also makes this system available to the federal states and municipalities in peacetime. However, the cities and districts decided independently whether and with what content a warning would be triggered via the system and then played via the warning app Nina. These could also use their own on-site warning devices such as sirens or commercial warning apps. “In the flood situation, the warning app Nina worked flawlessly,” the message said.
Some state and local politicians in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia had raised the question of whether missing warnings in some places were possibly related to technical problems after the flood disaster with 175 confirmed fatalities. (07/22/2021)
The death toll rises to at least 176
So far, 128 people have been recovered dead in the flood disaster area in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate. This was announced by Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (SPD) in the state parliament. This increases the death toll in Germany to a total of at least 176. Dreyer also said 764 people were injured in their state and 155 people are still missing. One must “start from the terrible assumption” that the number of deaths will continue to rise.
Of the 128 dead so far recovered, only 62 could be identified, as Interior Minister Roger Lewentz (SPD) said. But no mass burials are planned. “We want people to be able to say goodbye to their families with dignity,” said Lewentz. The police go to great lengths to clarify the fate of all people, said Lewentz. However, he could not promise that this would succeed in every case.
Dreyer praised the efforts of the rescue workers to cope with this catastrophic situation. At the Nürburgring “a gigantic helper town” was created. Despite all the suffering, the disaster shows: “Rhineland-Palatinate stands together.” The head of government said: “The reconstruction will be tedious and cost a lot of money. For that we need a national effort.” (07/22/2021)
WDR admits deficiencies in reporting
The Westdeutscher Rundfunk has admitted gaps in its reporting in the storm night last week. In its programs, the WDR provided clear and repeated information about the dangers and effects of the flood, the broadcaster said. To this end, local warning messages from the authorities were picked up and edited. “After careful examination, this should have happened more closely during the night, for example with a continuous special broadcast on WDR 2,” says the message.
The WDR is currently examining with the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief and the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of the Interior, how the population can be better reached with warnings of dangers. During the stormy night there were a large number of very local but no nationwide warning messages from the authorities, some of which also contained contradicting recommendations for action, the broadcaster emphasized. On the early Wednesday evening of July 14, the WDR warned against being outdoors in affected areas.
In the further course, the WDR informed about evacuations and the danger situation along the Wupper and in the Rhein-Sieg district and asked the population to get to safety in higher areas and upper floors. Several times the WDR had expressly warned of danger to life in certain areas. From midnight, when the situation worsened, there was a special edition of the news or correspondent reports on WDR 5 every 15 minutes all night, according to the message. (07/22/2021)
Tens of thousands of corona vaccination doses for disaster areas
Tens of thousands of corona vaccination doses are to be delivered to the areas marked by the flood disaster. The Federal Ministry of Health offered the affected countries additional vaccine, said a spokeswoman. In this way, low-threshold vaccination offers could be made on site. Rhineland-Palatinate has already accepted this offer and is receiving 23 400 additional doses of Biontech vaccine. They are to be inoculated by mobile teams, for example, where the medical practices had to close due to the flood, it said. In addition to the vaccine, masks, tests and medication should also be supplied if required. (07/22/2021)
The NRW cabinet approves emergency aid of 200 million euros
In North Rhine-Westphalia, the state cabinet has decided to provide 200 million euros in emergency aid for those affected by the flood disaster. The federal government has promised to double the sums of the state aid packages, said Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) after a special meeting of the cabinet in Düsseldorf. Applications could be made immediately. There is emergency aid for four groups: private citizens, business, farmers and municipalities.
For affected citizens there is a basic amount of 1500 euros per household, said the CDU / CSU candidate for chancellor. 500 euros would be available for each additional person. In total, a maximum of 3500 euros per household would be paid out. Account details can be specified in the form, but cash payments are also possible. There will be no means, asset and detailed tests. “We trust the citizens here that there is no abuse,” said Laschet. “It is crucial that the money now gets to the people quickly.” On the two-page form, you only need to assure that you are entitled to the service and that you have not received any other assistance.
“Potential insurance benefits will not be checked for the time being,” said the Prime Minister. Of course, it is clear: “If someone receives a reimbursement from another party, he cannot apply for this money in addition.” For every permanent establishment damaged by storm, services in the amount of 5000 euros could be called up. For the municipalities, a total of 65 million euros would be made available, said local minister Ina Scharrenbach (CDU). Laschet assured: “We will raise as much money as is necessary.” (07/22/2021)
Insurer: Flood damage probably higher than in 2002
According to industry information, the insurance damage caused by the flood disaster in western Germany amounts to four to five billion euros. “The damage is likely to be even higher than that of the August flood in 2002 of 4.65 billion euros,” said the general manager of the German Insurance Association (GDV), Jörg Asmussen. The recent floods in Bavaria and Saxony are not included in the bill.
After the floods in several regions in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate, in which at least 170 people lost their lives, this is the worst year for insurance companies since 2002. At that time, the insured storm damage for the whole year was 10.9 billion euros, according to GDV. In June of this year, heavy rain and hail caused an estimated insured loss of 1.7 billion euros.
And many of those affected are not insured against such disasters. In all of Germany, according to GDV, an average of almost half of consumers have natural hazard insurance that would step in in the event of natural events such as heavy rain, floods or landslides. In the areas now affected, this proportion was even significantly lower: The insurer HUK-Coburg, for example, gives a rate of 39 percent for the corresponding regions in North Rhine-Westphalia. In Rhineland-Palatinate it is 36 percent. In view of these numbers, a debate has broken out in Germany about how damage from flood disasters after heavy rain and floods can be better protected. (07/21/2021)