Simbach is still struggling with the consequences of the flood - Mayor Schmid: "The uncomfortable feeling always remains"

The people in Simbach experienced a flood disaster five years ago.

They are still struggling with some consequences.

And are setting up an early warning system in order to be able to protect themselves better against the flood in the future.

In Simbach, people watch the news from the disaster areas with great compassion.

The Lower Bavarian community was flooded in June 2016.

The reconstruction will take many years, says Mayor Klaus Schmid (CSU).

He reports how Simbach wants to protect itself better against such catastrophes in the future.

How do the people of Simbach experience the news from the flood areas?

These images send an ice cold chill down our spines.

The memories of that time are now very powerful again.

Fear too, of course.

Although we started to plan better flood protection in Simbach right after the flood.

What has happened already?

We worked out a concept together with the Deggendorf Water Management Authority.

For the Simbach, we are currently in the final phase of the planning approval procedure for an extended creek bed.

The first construction work is already underway.

Everything should be implemented within the next four to five years.

The disaster control plans are constantly being improved and adjusted by the district.

And we are currently having a new siren installed.

After flooding in Simbach: Disaster control plans are constantly being improved

Can this help you warn citizens better?

The new sirens not only allow warning tones, but also voice calls.

At that time, our cellular network had partially collapsed.

We can also use the sirens to reach citizens in such situations - as far as I know, not many municipalities in Bavaria currently have that.

However, it has to be said very clearly that there is not much time for warning in such situations.

We have now seen again that entire towns were flooded within a quarter of an hour.

What help did Simbach receive in 2016?

There was immediate aid from the district and the Free State.

A program to restore the infrastructure was then launched.

Everything urban was subsidized one hundred percent, construction work in the private sector up to 80 percent if there was no elementary insurance.

At first, it was the great willingness of many people to help us tremendously.

They came from far and wide to lend a hand, shoveled mud and cleaned up with us.

This sense of community at the time was very important.

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Simbach in June 2016: The place was completely destroyed by a flood disaster.

© Wolfram Zummach

How long did it take until the financial aid really flowed?

The emergency aid was paid out in the first few days.

For the infrastructure program, offers first had to be obtained and companies commissioned.

There are still actions that have not yet been completed.

We are still in the final phase of construction of some streets, and some new plantings are still missing.

You need a lot of patience after such a disaster and you have to proceed step by step.

How long did it take you to fully understand the extent of the flood?

We all could only really judge that after a few days, when the water drained away again.

Only then were we able to correctly determine the damage.

An unbelievable number of houses were affected.

Many had to be demolished because of oil damage.

After storms in Bavaria - Mayor of Simbach: "Always a bad feeling"

Has your home been affected?

No, we were lucky.

At that time I was able to fully devote myself to those affected.

I was hardly at home for 14 days.

How big is the fear in Simbach today when it rains for days?

Of course, we always have a bad feeling in the stomach area as soon as there is heavy rain.

That stays.

Do you think that the sympathy for the flood victims is even greater in Simbach than in other places?

In any case.

Anyone who has lost everything in a flood feels completely different in such a catastrophe.

The will to help is particularly great in Simbach.

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The floods in Germany left a picture of devastation.

Critics now complain that people have received too little warning.

But how reliably do Bavaria's authorities warn in the event of a disaster?

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