CDU wants help for local authorities to repair storm flood damage
The consequences of the severe storm surge in the Baltic Sea on October 20 and 21 will also occupy the Schwerin state parliament in its plenary session beginning on Wednesday. Even before the deliberations began, the opposition CDU made it clear that it expects the state government to provide rapid assistance to the municipalities affected in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and to take concrete measures to improve flood protection.
In a motion, it calls for the provision of state funds for necessary repair work. "This is necessary as many municipalities are not in a position to restore the destroyed infrastructure from their own resources due to financial restrictions," said CDU MP Thomas Diener. While the CDU's motion names concrete steps such as the allocation of additional funds in the state budget for 2024/2025, the SPD has only requested a topical hour on the consequences of the storm surge for the state parliament session.
Schleswig-Holstein, on the other hand, had convened a special session of the state parliament due to the flood damage and decided on a substantial funding program. "The state government here lacks this seriousness," criticized Diener. However, he conceded that the consequences of the storm surge were worse in the neighboring state. Following damage estimated at 200 million euros, the black-green government there is planning a special fund "Reconstruction Flood Disaster 2023".
A few days after the storm surge, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Environment Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) declared that the state's coastal protection facilities alone had suffered damage amounting to more than six million euros. In particular on the coasts of Fischland-Darß-Zingst, but also on Rügen and Usedom, there had been considerable losses of sand from the coastal protection dunes. Further damage, for example to tourist infrastructure, roads and ports, is still being analyzed. "There will be considerable sums on top of that," said Backhaus.
Immediately after the severe storm surge in the Baltic Sea, Schleswig-Holstein's Minister President Daniel Günther (CDU) and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's head of government Manuela Schwesig (SPD) jointly appealed to the federal government for financial assistance in repairing the damage. "We recall the floods in 2013 on the Elbe, Danube and Rhine or in the Ahr valley two years ago, which caused major damage to private households and companies as well as to the infrastructure of the federal, state and local governments," they said in a letter to Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). Even then, the community showed solidarity and the federal government set up a special fund.
The state government also needs to collaborate with the Parliament to secure funding for the repair of infrastructure damaged by the storm in various municipalities. Despite the severe weather conditions, it's crucial for the Government to prioritize improving the region's flood protection measures.
Source: www.dpa.com
