Authorities are warning the population in the flood areas to be cautious. Anyone who behaves incorrectly can easily put their life in danger. Experts also recommend private precautionary measures to protect home ownership and household goods.
Under no circumstances should people in the flood areas try to quickly check that everything is OK in the cellar or to retrieve objects from the basement. “It can be a deadly danger if you are standing in the cellar and suddenly the cellar door won’t open because the water has swelled for a short time,” explains Professor Jörn Birkmann. He is researching the risks posed by natural hazards and climate change at the University of Stuttgart.
Underground car parks could also become deadly traps. People in the affected regions should therefore not try to get their car to safety in an acute flood situation.
It is best to store important documents such as ID cards and insurance documents, but also family photo albums, on higher floors from the start.
Do not cross flooded streets on foot
According to risk researcher Birkmann, preparing for a flood situation also includes sealing off oils and chemical substances or not storing them in the basement at all. “The greatest economic damage occurs when chemicals leak or oil gets into the walls because oil tanks swell up.” In this case, owners would have to completely renovate the house or even demolish it.
Birkmann warns against trying to cross flooded streets on foot or driving into partially flooded underpasses. Even if the water is only about 30 centimeters high, you can no longer simply wade through.
“Even if the flood is only up to your knees, it can be dangerous,” says the expert from the University of Stuttgart. “You don’t know where the mud is and you’re suddenly swept away and can’t hold on.” It’s not just the height of the water, but also the speed of the flow and the material that’s washed away, such as tree trunks, that make such floods dangerous. Even rescue boats can sometimes no longer be used in strong currents.
Structural precautions in your own home
In addition to the authorities’ and politicians’ concerns about flooding, it is important for private individuals to protect their own homes in the event of an acute flood situation, for example with sandbags. Risk researcher Birkmann also advises taking structural precautions due to the increasing frequency of heavy rainfall events. For example, homeowners could prevent potential damage with relatively little effort by installing flood-proof panes in basement windows.
Another sensible precautionary measure is to install power connection boxes on upper floors or even in the garden rather than in the basement. This way, in an emergency, the power can be switched off without endangering one’s life. For Birkmann, insurance protection through natural hazard insurance is also part of risk prevention.
In principle, people in areas at risk should regularly monitor warnings. To do this, it is important to have a charged cell phone, says Birkmann. It is also important to have emergency supplies of water and food on the upper floors, as there could be prolonged power outages in affected regions.