No one will forget this in a hurry: weeks of heavy rain turned large parts of southern, eastern and northern Germany into disaster zones during the summer floods of 2013. In such cases, even small streams can become raging torrents that pose a danger to homes, property and lives.
Well prepared for flooding
Indoors and outdoors
The water is rising and there is no end in sight. Now is still the time to prepare.
- Obtain sandbags, formwork boards, waterproof plywood sheets and silicone for protection.
- Make sure that hazardous substances or chemicals cannot be reached by the water.
- Move valuable furniture or equipment such as computers etc. to the upper, flood-protected rooms.
- Secure the heating oil tank against buoyancy caused by the water, e.g. by anchoring it to the wall or weighing it down with ballast.
- Get enough food and drinking water, a battery-powered radio or a crank radio, a flashlight, a camping stove and a camping toilet. Have your bag with the most important documents ready. You can find more information in the chapter "Emergency luggage" and "Securing documents".
- Also think about insect repellent in case mosquitoes and other pests come into the house after the flood waters have receded.
Very important!
Keep yourself up to date! Follow the latest weather reports and flood warnings via radio, internet or teletext.
Think about this early on:
- the care of the sick or those in need of help. Can you evacuate these people from the danger zone in good time? Where to?
- the evacuation of pets.
- the possibility of talking to neighbors or others if the telephone or mobile phone fails. Discuss emergency and danger signs with neighbors.
- the "distribution of roles" in an emergency. Who does what?
Correct action in the event of flooding
In the house
- Remain calm and level-headed. Check whether your precautionary measures are sufficient.
- Clear out the cellar rooms into which groundwater can penetrate or which could fill up.
- Seal windows and doors as well as drainage openings.
- Switch off electrical appliances and heaters in rooms that could fill up. Be aware of the risk of electric shock. If necessary, switch off the power completely (remove the fuse).
- Check the backflow flaps in the cellar.
In the car
- Drive your car out of endangered garages or parking lots in good time.
- Caution! Underground garages can become deadly traps when there is a risk of flooding.
- Do not drive through flooded roads. Water in the engine compartment causes a lot of damage. The catalytic converter, which has an operating temperature of 700 degrees Celsius, shatters when suddenly cooled by water.
- Have your vehicle towed away if it is up to its wheels in water.
Save lives
- Help others, but do not put yourself in danger.
- Take children out of the flooded area to safety before the danger occurs.
- Due to the formation of waves and the danger of underwater obstacles, do not "walk" unnecessarily in flooded areas with boats or other vehicles.
- Do not enter any bank areas due to the risk of undermining or breaking off. Do not drive on flooded or partially flooded roads.
- Observe the instructions and barriers of the emergency services.
Behavior after the flood
The water recedes. Now it's time to Take stock and tidy up.
- Do not start pumping out the water in the house until you are sure that the groundwater level has dropped sufficiently. Be careful, you will damage
- otherwise the floor pan of the house. Please look out for information from the local authority. Make an inventory and take photos of the damage for the insurance company.
- Clear water residues and mud from the house.
- Dry the rooms as quickly as possible to avoid structural damage or mold. Use heating appliances for drying. They can be rented or borrowed.
- Have the electrics, heating oil tanks and, in special cases, the structural engineering checked by a specialist.
- If harmful substances such as paint, varnish, pesticides, gasoline, oil, etc. have been released, call the fire department.
- Dirty, broken furniture and spoiled food do not simply belong in the household waste, but must be disposed of properly.
- Do not eat fruit, vegetables and lettuce from flooded areas. If your garden or fields are contaminated with pollutants (e.g. oil), contact the district office or the agricultural office.
Further offers
- Disaster control Aachen city region
- Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance
- German Weather Service
- Flood control centers of the federal states
- NINA App
- Common contact point
- Explosive ordnance disposal