Weather - Red Cross: Emergency services reach their limits despite snow chains
The heavy snowfall in the south and east of Bavaria put a strain on rescue teams and aid organizations. In some districts of southern Bavaria, the emergency services had reached their limits despite snow chains and four-wheel drive; without the support of the mountain rescue service, there was sometimes no way through, a spokesperson for the Bavarian Red Cross (BRK) said on Saturday.
The BRK andTHW also helped on Friday night and Saturday with the evacuation of trains and the care of occupants of broken-down vehicles on freeways. In Nuremberg, helpers from the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund, BRK, Malteser Hilfsdienst and Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe were reportedly on duty at the main railway station, looking after stranded passengers.
Volunteers from the THW also helped in many places to shovel the snow from roofs or clear cars and trucks that had crashed from roads in order to keep traffic flowing as much as possible. In Straubing, the roof of the ice hockey stadium was cleared by the fire department and THW for structural reasons. The stadium is home to the DEL team Straubing Tigers.
Another challenge for the Bavarian Red Cross in some parts of southern Bavaria was the provision of domestic services such as "meals on wheels" or "outpatient care", said the BRK spokesperson.
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The operational force of the THW in Southern Bavaria worked tirelessly to clear roads and assist with traffic, utilizing shovels to clear snow and evacuate stranded vehicles. Despite the efforts of emergency services in Bavaria, the heavy snowfall continued to pose challenges, particularly in the domestic service sector. In some areas of southern Bavaria, the Red Cross BRK had to prioritize meals on wheels and outpatient care due to the widespread impact of the severe weather.
During the weekend, rescue forces from across Germany, including THW, were called upon to support local efforts in Bavaria. The city of Munich, in particular, was affected by the snowfall, requiring a combined effort from various relief organizations to manage the situation. Despite the challenges, the BRK and THW remained committed to their mission, working together to ensure the safety and well-being of those in need.
The railroad system in Bavaria also felt the impact of the weather, with evacuations and care for stranded passengers being provided at major stations like Nuremberg. As the snow continued to fall and temperatures remained low, the collective efforts of the emergency services, relief organizations, and operational forces in Southern Bavaria proved instrumental in managing the situation and providing much-needed assistance to those affected.
Source: www.stern.de
