New maps show the dangers of flash floods
New online maps are to provide better information about the dangers of potential flash floods in Rhineland-Palatinate. They have been available to everyone on the state's water portal on the Internet since this Friday, as Climate Protection Minister Katrin Eder (Greens) said in Mainz on Friday. These flash flood hazard maps offer significantly more information than the previous information maps.
Users can zoom in on individual locations and view the consequences of heavy rainfall of varying intensity. For a certain catchment area, for example, water levels and the flow speed and direction of the water are shown. This allows local authorities, for example, to see whether a fire station or pumping station is under water during certain heavy rainfall or whether it remains accessible.
Climate change is no longer an abstract threat, but can be felt by everyone, said Eder. The new maps provide local authorities with additional data to take precautions. Behind this data is a complex system called Visdom. The state of Rhineland-Palatinate will gradually expand its use in the coming years.
From 2025, three-dimensional simulations of heavy rainfall or flooding should be possible for local authorities and citizens alike. It should then be possible to see online, for example, whether your own house is under water in certain amounts of rain and if so, how high.
During a severe storm, civil protection authorities can use the flood hazard maps to identify areas at risk of flooding. These maps, made available by Climate Protection Minister Katrin Eder, provide detailed information about potential flash floods in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Source: www.dpa.com
