Storm - "Stable at a high level": Flood deployment at Helme
According to Thuringia's Environment Minister Bernhard Stengele, the flood defense in the Kyffhäuserkreis district on the border with Saxony-Anhalt will take even longer. "We are expecting ten more days," the Green politician told the German Press Agency on Wednesday on the fringes of a site visit in Mönchpfiffel-Nikolausrieth. According to current forecasts, this is how long it will take for water to continue to be released into the Helme from the overloaded Kelbra dam in Saxony-Anhalt. The Minister assessed the current situation on the Helme between Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt as "stable at a high level".
Continued storm warning due to persistent rain
However, the situation could quickly change again, said Stengele, referring to the weather forecasts and a severe weather warning due to heavy continuous rain in northern and southern Thuringia, which is still in force up to and including Thursday. "We're not quite through yet." The severe weather warning issued by the German Weather Service (DWD) affects the districts of Nordhausen, Hildburghausen, Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, Schmalkalden-Meiningen, Sonneberg, the Ilm district and the city of Suhl.
Shortly before the turn of the year, a dyke near Mönchpfiffel-Nikolausrieth was opened in a controlled manner due to the flooding in order to direct the floodwaters onto adjacent fields. This has so far prevented the village in the Kyffhäuserkreis district from being flooded.
Minister praises cross-state cooperation
In Stengele's view, the cooperation between the two federal states in flood prevention is "outstanding". This applies to both the municipal level, i.e. the districts of Kyffhäuser (Thuringia) and Mansfeld-Südharz(Saxony-Anhalt), as well as the respective state authorities. The authorities in Saxony-Anhalt were acting with caution when it came to relieving the Kelbra dam and not releasing too much water at once. He was grateful for this, said Stengele. The water level in the Helme rises as water is released from the dam.
Associations demand purchase of floodplain areas for flood protection
The long duration of the flooding in parts of the Free State is rather unusual, but shows what Thuringia will have to prepare for in the future in view of climate change, said Stengele. This has consequences for flood and disaster protection. For example, more natural floodplains are needed along watercourses. "We need to give water more space." This was also demanded on Wednesday by the environmental association BUND and the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union Germany. They are calling for the state to buy up floodplain areas along rivers for flood protection.
According to Stengele, around 400 million euros of state funding will be needed for flood protection in Thuringia by 2027. In addition, approval procedures for corresponding construction measures need to be accelerated. Flood and disaster protection also needs to be more "professionalized" in terms of personnel. At the moment, a lot is resting on the shoulders of volunteers. "They've been doing this for eight days."
The water levels in parts of Thuringia rose again on Wednesday after rainfall, in some cases up to the first alert level. 13 water levels were above the pre-warning level (start of reporting) in the afternoon, five had exceeded the first alert level, according to an overview from the flood information center. A slow drop in water levels is expected from Thursday afternoon, it said.
Thuringian Flood Information Center DWD weather forecast DWD storm warnings
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- Despite the successful flood deployment in Helme, Thuringia's Environment Minister Bernhard Stengele warns of an extended release of water from the overloaded Kelbra dam in the neighboring district of Kyffhäuserkreis in Saxony-Anhalt, estimating a duration of ten more days.
- The ongoing severe weather warning due to heavy rain in northern and southern Thuringia, including districts like Nordhausen and Hildburghausen, continues to pose a threat, as stated by Minister Stengele.
- Shortly before the turn of the year, a controlled floodgate release was performed near Mönchpfiffel-Nikolausrieth in Thuringia to prevent the village from flooding.
- Stengele commends the cooperative efforts between Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt in flood prevention, highlighting the district levels of Kyffhäuser (Thuringia) and Mansfeld-Südharz (Saxony-Anhalt) and the respective state authorities.
- associations like BUND and Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union Germany appeal for the acquisition of floodplain areas for improved flood protection in Thuringia, in response to the prolonged flooding incidents.
- A significant budget of approximately 400 million euros for flood protection in Thuringia by 2027, coupled with expedited approval procedures for associated construction projects, is required, as announced by Minister Stengele.
- Following rainfall on Wednesday, water levels in certain parts of Thuringia rose again, with 13 water levels surpassing the pre-warning level and five exceeding the first alert level, according to the flood information center.
- A gradual decrease in water levels is expected starting from Thursday afternoon, as reported by the flood information center.
Source: www.stern.de
