As of: February 6, 2024, 7:55 a.m
By: Felix Herz
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Flash floods in Bavaria: A nationwide hazard map is now intended to ensure more safety.
The map is part of a comprehensive flood protection program.
© Armin Weigel/dpa
Bavaria is preparing for flash floods: A new danger map is intended to help identify risks at an early stage.
But this is only the beginning.
Munich – A nationwide hazard map that serves to protect the population in Bavaria from flash floods is now available online.
“This information map represents significant progress in dealing with flash flood risks. The map offers local officials an initial assessment of the respective flash flood risk,” explained Environment Minister Thorsten Glauber (Free Voters).
Flood protection is of utmost importance, which is why the advisory service is being expanded to include a nationwide flood check for all Bavarian communities.
Hazard map available online: “Risks will continue to increase”
Heavy rain can lead to so-called flash flood events.
Smaller streams and areas far from bodies of water in particular can be affected by sudden flash floods if the soil is so saturated with water that it cannot absorb any further moisture.
The online map enables a precise search for streets and shows the expected amounts of water during heavy rain events.
This is intended to help communities identify places with high risk potential more quickly and take appropriate protective measures.
“The risks from extreme weather events will increase even further due to climate change.
We have to prepare for this at all levels,” said Glauber.
Heavy rain poses a particular challenge because it can occur anywhere and turn even the smallest stream into a raging river.
“The goal is to make it easier for communities to begin targeted flash flood risk management and to raise public awareness of flash flood risks.”
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Two billion for flood protection - another two billion are planned
The data could also be used to adjust alarm and operational plans in the communities, it said.
In addition, communities could use the information to develop detailed flash flood risk management concepts.
The Free State supports the creation of these municipal concepts with funding of 75 percent.
Currently, around 200 communities have applied for funding of around 20 million euros.
The Ministry of the Environment calls on all communities to take advantage of the funding opportunities.
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According to the ministry, more than two billion euros have flowed into flood protection in Bavaria since 2013.
As part of the “Water Action Program”, a further two billion euros are to be invested in flood protection and water ecology by 2030.
Under wraps “for years” – criticism from the Greens, counterattack from the state government
Last year, the Greens in the state parliament called for the state government to publish the hazard maps and criticized the fact that they had only been kept under wraps “for years”.
The state government then stated that the maps would have to undergo legal review before publication.
Interested communities would have had access to the draft maps in advance.
The interactive hazard map can be found here.
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The editor Felix Herz wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at his own discretion. All information has been carefully checked.
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