In favor of mandatory insurance for natural hazards: Willingmann.

Heavy rainfall causes flooding. - In favor of mandatory insurance for natural hazards: Willingmann.

The Saxony-Anhalt Environment Minister, Armin Willingmann, seized the recent heavy rain and flooding in southern Germany as a chance to call for a mandatory insurance against natural disasters once more. "From Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg now, to Saarland a few weeks ago, and likely in Saxony-Anhalt by the year's end: Storms and floods are increasingly common in Germany and causing severe damage that jeopardizes existence," remarked the SPD politician on Thursday. "If we hope to avoid the federal government and states from repeatedly managing natural disasters - possibly more frequently - we must push for the implementation of a mutual mandatory insurance against natural disasters."

Willingmann intends to include the compulsory insurance on the agenda of the Environmental Ministers' Conference on Friday in Bad Dürkheim, Rhineland-Palatinate. "We've been discussing this topic for over two years. Following resolutions from the Environmental Ministers' Conference, the Conference of Minister Presidents, and the Bundesrat, there was room for a lengthy discussion," added the state minister.

The Environment Ministry cited February 2024 statements from the German Insurers Association, warning that around 9,000 addresses in Saxony-Anhalt face flood hazards. The insurance premium against natural disasters in Saxony-Anhalt, along with the federal government, has been set at 50% for quite some time. Insuring oneself voluntarily against natural disasters can be challenging, especially in high-risk areas.

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1. Armin Willingmann, the Environment Minister of Saxony-Anhalt, utilized the recent storms and flooding in southern Germany as an opportunity to advocate for compulsory insurance against natural hazards once more.
2. Willingmann noted that regions like Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg have experienced frequent severe weather events, causing substantial damage, and predicted that Saxony-Anhalt might be impacted by similar circumstances by the year's end.
3. Addressing the need for action, Willingmann asserted that mandatory insurance against natural disasters would help prevent the federal government and states from continuously managing and financing natural disasters.
4. In the upcoming Environmental Ministers' Conference in Bad Dürkheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, Willingmann plans to put forward the topic of mandatory insurance against natural hazards.
5. According to the German Insurers Association, approximately 9,000 addresses in Saxony-Anhalt face flood risks, with the insurance premium for natural disasters being set at 50% for both the state and federal government.
6. Voluntary insurance against natural disasters can be challenging, especially in high-risk areas, making the case for a compulsory insurance policy even stronger.
7. The push for compulsory insurance against natural hazards in Germany is not a new topic, as it has been discussed in previous Environmental Ministers' Conferences, Conference of Minister Presidents, and the Bundesrat, calling for urgent attention and implementation.

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