Söder defends prior flood protection actions.

Emergency response and safety provisions - Söder defends prior flood protection actions.

With regards to the recent Danube flood, Markus Söder believes that the current protective measures have been adequate in preventing further damage. He stated that creating more polders, an enclosed area meant to be flooded during extreme flood events, wouldn't have made a significant difference in the current situation.

Söder also emphasized the importance of comprehensive flood protection involving both technological and natural measures. However, he admitted that there's no guarantee for complete safety. The powerful rain events, the high groundwater level, and the swollen dikes contributed to the current situation in Swabia.

Recounting the past resistance towards flood protection measures like polders, Söder admitted that there were heated debates among the Free Voters. However, he added that the outlook has since changed. The CSU never doubted the importance of these protective measures. Söder also pointed out that there's often resistance from locals when it comes to building polders. The acceptance rate of these measures is low across parties, hence, the implementation progresses at a slow pace, and a municipal flood protection check is required. Investment in decentralized flood protection in municipalities is also needed.

In his observations of the particularly hard-hit areas in Bavaria, Söder shared his emotional response to the devastation. "These are emotional days," he said, feling the immense burden carried by the people affected. The saddest part for him was the loss of lives. "We grieve for them and with their families." But there was also a positive side to the devastation - the willingness to help and cooperate from the rescue forces and the volunteers, who were actively participating in the clean-up process.

Read also:

1. Despite the intense 'Storm' that hit Augsburg, the 'Augsburger Allgemeine' reported that emergency services had effectively managed the situation.
2. Locally, Free voters had previously expressed reservations about 'flood polder' construction, but in light of recent 'emergencies', they are now advocating for increased investment in flood protection.
3. The 'CSU' and Hubert Aiwanger, Bavaria's Minister for Economy and Digitalization, have pledged to strengthen 'civil protection' measures in two particularly vulnerable areas near the 'Danube'.
4. Given the 'weather' conditions and the river's unpredictable rise, the 'Augsburg' region's 'flood protection' systems were pushed to their limits.
5. The 'Bavarian' government has been criticized for delaying 'flood protection' initiatives, but recent emergencies have highlighted the urgent need to address this issue.
6. Despite the 'emergencies', the spirit of solidarity was palpable, with 'rescue forces' and volunteers working tirelessly to help those affected by the 'flood'.
7. In response to the 'flood', the Bavarian government announced plans to allocate additional funds to 'municipal flood protection', aimed at bolstering their resilience to such events.
8. The newspaper 'Augsburger Allgemeine' highlighted the resilience of the Swabian people, praising their cooperative efforts in the aftermath of the 'emergencies', emphasizing their shared sense of community.

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