- The Federal Office of Public Works has published a new map of heavy rain hazards
To enable every citizen to better assess potential risks during heavy rain, the Hessian State Office for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology (HLNUG) has published a new map on the internet. For several years, municipalities have been informed about the potential paths that rainwater can take using so-called flow path maps.
This allows cities and communities to better plan their protection against damage from heavy rain, the state office in Wiesbaden announced. Now, all flow path maps are available to everyone in a new "Heavy Rain Viewer".
For municipalities whose topography is too flat, there are no flow path maps, as the predicted water flow cannot be realistically depicted.
In 2020, a heavy rain warning map for Hesse was published. It provided information on municipalities particularly at risk from heavy rain.
Just a few days ago, heavy rainfall in some places in North Hesse caused significant damage. "With our new viewer, Hessian citizens can better assess and prepare for their risk in case of heavy rain - because the topic of climate adaptation affects us all," says HLNUG President Thomas Schmid. "As climate change progresses, we will experience more and heavier heavy rain events."
The new "Heavy Rain Viewer" includes all flow path maps, providing information necessary for municipalities like the meadows to plan their flood mitigation strategies. As climate change escalates, we can expect more meadows to be affected by heavier and more frequent heavy rain events.
