🚨 Flooding is one of the most common causes of death in natural disasters.
30 cm of water can wash away a car. 60 cm is enough to make it float.
Water is stronger than steel.
1. Recognizing Early Warning Signs
- Persistent rain over several hours/days (soil saturated)
- Rapidly rising water level in rivers, streams, canals
- Rumbling sound (approaching water, especially at night!)
- Animals fleeing (birds, mice, insects to higher areas)
- Gauge levels: Pegelonline – Check continuously during persistent rain
- Warning apps: NINA, KATWARN, MoWaS – Activate push notifications
2. Immediate Measures at Flood Warning
- Turn off electricity: Remove main fuse BEFORE water enters. Electricity + water = deadly!
- Turn off gas: Close main valve (leak risk with damage)
- Collect water: Fill bathtub, buckets, pots (supply will fail!)
- Important documents: ID, vaccination card, insurance – waterproof packaging, move higher
- Medications: Personal medications + first aid kit at safe height
- Car: Drive to higher location IMMEDIATELY (don't wait!)
- Clear basement: Bring valuables, chemicals, heating oil upstairs
- Furniture: Raise or bring to upper floor
3. During the Flood
- Leave basement immediately: Don't wait a minute. Water rises faster than you think.
- Upper floor/Roof: Seek higher floors. Roof as last resort.
- Never walk through water: 15 cm flowing water can knock down an adult
- Never drive through water: 30 cm = car floats. 60 cm = car is washed away.
- No power lines: Power lines can be in the water – deadly!
- Don't drink tap water: Water supply is contaminated. Boil!
- Turn on radio: Wait for announcements from fire department/THW
- Call for help: 112, wave cloth, whistle, light signals at night
4. After the Flood
- Only enter house when fire department clears it: Collapse risk!
- Only have electricity turned on by professional: Short circuit risk in wet house
- Check gas: If smell – immediately leave rooms, no lights on
- Boil water: Tap water is not drinkable until further notice
- Take photos: Document damage for insurance
- No wet cleaning: Let dry first (mold risk!). Pump, ventilate.
- Drinking water: Use boiled water or water rations
5. Flood Protection Preparedness
- Basement flood protection: Backflow flap in sewage pipe (prevents backflow)
- Mobile flood protection: Sandbags, flood protection plates, door threshold seals
- Valuables: Always store in upper floor
- Empty rain barrel: Empty rain barrel before flood (otherwise becomes a hazard)
- Trees/Windows: Remove trees from lines/roof, barricade windows
6. Checklist: Flood
- ☐ Power off, gas off (at warning)
- ☐ Collect water in bathtub/buckets
- ☐ Documents + medications at safe height
- ☐ Drive car to higher location
- ☐ Leave basement immediately, seek higher floors
- ☐ Never drive or walk through water
- ☐ Radio/crank radio for announcements
- ☐ Whistle + cloth for signaling
- ☐ Water filter/boiling option (drinking water becomes contaminated)
- ☐ Flood protection sandbags prepared