SPD warns against more speed in flood protection

Has everything possible been done to prevent a "Century Flood" like 2021? From the SPD's perspective, not quickly enough.

, and Alex Stellmacher

2024 July 12 . 9:05 AM

2 min read

On the third anniversary of the century flood, the SPD calls for more effective protection for... — On the third anniversary of the century flood, the SPD calls for more effective protection for citizens.

flood - SPD warns against more speed in flood protection

Three years after the flood disaster in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate, the SPD opposition in the Düsseldorf state parliament is calling for more proactive measures to strengthen protective and warning systems. "We need to strengthen dikes faster and expand the peg measurement network more quickly," demanded the environmental policy spokesperson of the faction, René Schneider. "At the dikes, we need faster planning and approval procedures."

Unfortunately, there were a lack of experts in the planning authorities and among the staff. "Through targeted deployment of civil servants, more reliability and continuity could be achieved here," suggested the SPD politician.

It often seems that decision-makers forget catastrophes quickly. "From initial apologies, too little comes of it," criticized Schneider. It is to be hoped, however, that a flood disaster like 2021 will not be a once-in-a-century event. The investigative committee of the state parliament on the flood should also complete its clarification and present its lessons early before the next anniversary, emphasized the SPD chairman of the committee.

Due to the storm, 49 people had died alone in NRW in mid-July 2021. Damage to buildings and infrastructure amounted to a billion euros.

The SDP in the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament, led by René Schneider, has expressed concerns about the lack of progress in strengthening flood protection measures after the 2021 disaster.
Schneider stated that the dikes need to be strengthened faster, the peg measurement network expanded more quickly, and planning and approval procedures at the dikes should be expedited.
In response to the lack of experts in the planning authorities and among the staff, Schneider suggested deploying more civil servants to achieve more reliability and continuity.
Schneider also criticized the tendency of decision-makers to forget catastrophes quickly, stating that while apologies were made, little action followed the 2021 flood disaster.
In order to prevent another Century flood like the one in 2021, Schneider urged the investigative committee of the state parliament on the flood to complete its work and present its findings before the next anniversary.